| ae \ } ak Riss. #07), 
fan yr : il 2; 
Nave Cwu vel 


DEVOLUTION “OF MISST MARY (ADMINISTRATION, IN CHINA 


CaN Amo Ye kc, A= a aon 
OF TRAP R UI 
Pe ed tin LE FO ly ae a q oe 
WORCUWES ERED URI VRS 
ae é + Wp.4 P m 
Sof Ghe Cees 


MISSIONS AND HISTORY OF RELIGION 


* 2 oy te Agate — 
SAS OF ARTES 


Filed with the Dean 
May 1, 1926 


k 


! 


¥ 


a SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT = 


4 ; 


OF THE REQUIREMENTS 


NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | 


for the degree 


2. Policies of Bt 9ai SP NTENT ES . towort Beco iotiesn. ay 
a, The Liwertean Bo ard. Page 
ie INTRODUCTION... Gh of “the EBrdthr an. 


- Purpose Methodist Eyiscopal Unaxveh. | 6 
Ze Why Devolution. of. Missions, 4n Us. Se A 7 
a. Apostolic Example 
Lit. PACTORS Ze VEL DEVELOTTC RS CY CHIeese. AUT OmUre 
b. The Demand of an Indigénous Church. 
Lo Vitel Cortetian Faith and txperiense. 
3, Definition of Terms, 10 
Be BVLSitve. wit BOrel Strength. 
ao Missionary. ™ 
S, BB iwens Tn Spiritual and oral 
b. Mission. , 
Ro tealetpein Tor toe Judiwenoue Cirurch. sii 
Ge Indigenous Chinése Church. 


ds Devolution in Missionary Administration. 
. Chinese Autohomous Church. 


oe 


gis r PO rm : i aki: eke, ae 
S Puts be Ae Fay pay ie wie 1 (pooh a eee er § he}, i Ya 


9 6 ADMINISTRATION QF MISSIONS IM CHINA 11 


seer bbw. 


1. Four Beginnings of Christianity in China. a 
a. By Nestorian Missionaries in 690... 
bo. By John.of Monte, Corvino, .a. Sitelies in 1224. 
o. By REGGE} a Jesuit in the sixteenth century, 


1m 


*« “@2°Ry Robert Morrison, a Protestant in 1807. 


ee 


3; Missionary ‘Administration in China. ay 6 
ry. Moveu@er She bgarda..d@ 


ass ee 


ng. with missionaries,as individuals... 


a) . 
AF een! pe ose 


me a with, its.mi ized 
1, PRe hop, dentte deating with, ite.mieadenertes oreanize 


o. Thre “5° “py ement 5° st” strer g h in field organizat ion. 
as The Binet of webkness in’ field organization. 


63 The boards &pds dealing with missftoneri 6s and ‘Chinese in 
1 authority. 


Page . 
3. Policies of Mission Boards toward Devolution. 27 
a. The American Board. 
bv. The Church of the Brethrene 
ce The Methodist Episcopal Church. 
d. The Presbyterian Church in U. 8. As 
III. FACTORS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHINESE AUTOMOMY 32 
1. Vital Christian Faith and Experience. | 
ae Spiritual and Moral Strength. 
bo. Weakness in Spiritual and Moral Life. 
2. Leadership for the Indigenous Church, 35 
ae The Present Supply. 
bv. Present Needs. 
Gc. Factors in Developing Leadership. : 
S. Desire for Autonomy. 35 
ae A Desire to see Christ. 
be A Search for Indigenous Forms of Expression. 
c. An £ffort to Build up a Representative Chihese 
Churche | 
4. Numerical Strength. 41 
5. Literature. 43 
IV. MOVEMENTS TOWARD DEVOLUTION IN ADMINISTRATION 45 
l. Preparation for Devolution by Missionaries. 45 
&. Three National Conferences. 47 


ae The Morrison Centenary Gonference of 1907. 


be “ie: Senne National Missionary Conference of 
1913. ; rire 


I» DTRERODUGTT OR 
Page 
Le ? wrasse. regeegre er tten Conference of 1922 at. aalonaary 


AlUmind so ratig on, the Tormign minaionary body of the Church of 
3. The “National Christian Council of China. 53 
vhing. The, greah elm oF mlaaion wrk has bean the develaprent of | 
: a. The Constitutional Functions of the Council. 
Hamese, Churches, (1). -. The attitudes of mieslonarted meetrads yy ten 
be The Council at Work. 
éiw hag. not been wnlforaly the comes  Thaeoaxpestetion of the ap 


ooW EXPERIMENTS INvGHE TRANSFER OF MISSIONARY ADMINISTRATION »).57 
ounce elo lthecamévidancBepabde for some, They bad te view the 57 
heutenigs Ole "Chuvebiag thesBrethtens tic Gogpel throughout the 66 

o.® “8. he China Christian Mission (Disetpleshus motPyatat on65 
be mentagniie MetlibdtetIRpAmdopakeGhucedes (0). For draw vis1168 
up O° o§jefheoPresbyterian Church ini the sUerSenAs 89 th herent 
preseni6g Thé Prétestant«EpiscopalsChirchermost parte.” “se ab 74 


“ee of, Questions» and answered bynSecretaries.of Protestant’. 

/ Lf sehag gee and Southern Baptist eerste . 

days of migaicue forest. the. missionaries to have acre Goneern for 
8. The pad ne of Administration in Edueational 

winning cotvdnetitutdofer atudying. she problem of trandferving 80 


aimie e9ya Thee transfer, of Administration in: Hospitalss w.) be 82 


roneermed with Chine twigelomary: work in ite Later davalapme nt. 
VI. CONCLUSION ; 84 
The problem of devealution, in. recent: yeere has bean faded gerionusiy 
1. Mumerous Phases of Devolution. 8 
a. provides exeelent.masterial for @tedy~e: (The altimate ‘aim ef 
2. Self-support. 84 
Rise lomhey work now held. by the grout majordtig of misedetmrie «t 
| 3. Chinese Missionary Enterprise. 86 
the adh ievemsnt of the sutenon@use Uhinese.chureh, The mlagion- 
4e tHAe PORA SH Churches. 87 
arligen necouseariiy ageguned a dosimcat coalition iu tie earls Gass. 


ct 
Se 
~ 


- 4] 


ia Ghinese Cnriatian leadership developed 413 omegumed) tagi orm 
previcusly by the misaionaries, We shalh point aut the trodrtens 
igeues of the fevreloument of Coristianitw ard on ave related te 


jews Wutios tn pabeni stration, 


abi w Rt Liebe . ‘ ee bi fe, ne Le @ 
) Masai. Alfred Dewitt, "Outlines of Wissienary Tiatory." L¥ie. 
are Yoo 


# 


i nr wT “SK é His ‘ “ n 
EE Sum, Eiwiu ,, "She Miesiousry Enterpriga.” 1008, sage 290 
(3 


I. INTRODUCTION 


1. Purpose. It is my purpose to study the devolution of missionaary 
administration from the foreien missionary body of the Church of 
China. The great aim of mission work has been the development of 
Chinese churches (1). The attitude of missionaries regarding this 
aim has not been uniformly the same. The expectation of the ap- 
proaching second advent of Jesus caused witness-bearing to be the 
essence of the missionary task for some. They had in view the 
hastening of His coming by preaching the Gospel throughout the 
whole world (2). Notable among those who were thus motivated can 
be mentioned the Chine Inland Missionaries (3). For them building 
up of congregations was suhordinate in importance to itinerant 
preaching and witness-bearing in the “uttermost parts." The ab- 
sence of large groups of mature Chinese Christians in the early 
days of missions forced the missionaries to have more concern for 
Winning converts than for study ing the problem of transferring 
administrative control. The major part of this thesis will be 
concerned with China missionary work in its later development. 

The problem of devolution in recent years has been faced seriously 
and provides excellent material for study. The ultimate aim of 
missionary work now held by the great na jority of missionaries is 
the achievement of the autonomous Chinese church. ‘The mission- 
aries necessarily assumed a dominant position in the Carly days. 
As Chinese Christian leadership developed it assumed tasks borne 
previously by the missionaries. We shall point out the important 
issues of the development of Christianity which are related to 


devolution in administration. 


2) Matt. 24:14 
$) Mason, Alfred Dewitt, "Outlines of aa hed History." 1912. 
page ° 


F Bliss, Edwin M., “The Missionary Enterprise." 1908, page 290. 
( ° 


; writin: of intigonevs workers wae part of the 
> 1. In the apostolic days there were no Boards of 
e's LAS ‘ti Oar sy PETES (> ne: ‘204 aD ' * be ear { Pe 
Mésetons., ™he iife an and. command of Josue supplied the dynamic 
fee Tees ax D3 4Ge-s % ee Wievrv Hi v3 oh +3 i 9 
that. gent men forth. ‘Preaching the Gospel of. salvation was the 
aY | NSE Onno bably (amotiy ai ne ona urged The | 
elieni untve gal oce ation of, the church Paul made. ‘tents. to 
“Ah nigh ” hoe: Le , ne Bx Owe ie. I et  opae 7 Bim. OF the proglain- 
e a Livi and also ived : ‘the bounty of tho se to whom he 
Aro, 4 ain ah, "GD y 5 B we bat fog > AZM AS 4 ri 1 Pe y 5 ee a io ha, to eee 
a) a the message of Christ. The work 
a i ce hy a Vary ile h ct prpelained , an co 
of eprqeting & ee eS get pews ony not confined to a few missionaries, 
Se ang ‘a * Fi ASA UD wala OP » 


Bs Be teas 


butevery Christian ‘shared the feeling of accountability for ex- 


L By ea oP POASge We Doe! G 20) a « i I sgh 


eaplovntad Gospel. ‘The anti olpated early return of ‘Jesus stirred 


fe 
itt i ATL, WE ae BAER 2 PLC Sd: BI # 


’ on Pgs ge hl to prepare their own Lives and te make ‘mown the 


tit ibs Fe w es OS Si, a8 G9 “ia ~ ih ate eh at 


terne of salvation to others. me 


& ORs hy a moet pe. foeened hn tise ee mati 


% at On. pop 
2. The apostolic missionary effort was directed to the 


eo 2 ie ms 
oe eITAC, R;: Ons 3 oe Lawes eh erie S. ae AU a’ at) Rae 


establishment _ of self-governing - self-supporting and Sol t-sxvend~ 


Me Be in r] 
he Be ads a ds # % * th rt: Hy : eee, “ae ‘ 3 Y 


ing church es (1s ‘Such “churches. wore the units in whi oh Paul 


rus ry Liv (Hs Hi pS We te oe L 4 
arts i $2, ey :s ae mee we + a y us % S98 Ch pe ve: ALE Le yk 


eoekenet: 3 chs prog gress of the Gospel. In his address to the elders 


ri i5 P€ 4 ve mn 
SESS CiUROY BUG he ee at & £ i. ee ae RA? Le wea mike wk! ‘oe he ia RS Sb me eae, 


of Ephesus (2) pe aimed to finish his wrk there and commit” re- 


go be 
cy Se as terme oF uninese RCE Os, BOY, TE 


sponsibility, to. Me gsc apd og he journeyed to Jerusalen, “and eventually 


“8 1. hy ay y - , 
ration onf Love cen 41d the Chinese in the: 


he ea” ae P 


OM. 42 ROMP Hi Even though Chrési's return Was expected soon Paul 


LQG28 Ske Pa Snes Dat the imdieeneus chures re 


desired to establish churches that would continue abiding in His 


veh aware GO saypors L7 overn itselt to 2 by 
a meking a if ie: r mi 
LOTR oft SOLUS» Birt on mk! %. ie i ata ings Gugnt en thoeol cerca 
! 3 th % @ exce ion Paul 4 ect & h effort t 
gueehions tate buy a. xcept wh Psi eS ae i Sonam te teas nF to 
cities a etinaee then to villages. He pianbes churches in strategic 
rat) VES i. W teh ve. oe Tesi eh A ie ohn roth ik ‘At Lt i ae ¥ i L tm, af sk Exh ie: 
places in view of their growth, wh through Cham, ee eventual 


f 1 War vib SYD | Mi "i Re i ? ny 
(i) Robinson, Charles Neary, “Wiatery of Cheri atica Bissione." LYS, 


(1) fering Shae, "apostolic and oto hastonse 1898, 


he ft aay + hy on - as Pp re 566 
(2) Acts’ BO: L722. cS Fhe Proereas “-" tLe 


TN me LM” ate SP ll a 


evangelization of the surrounding territory (1). 

4, The training of indigenous workers was part of the 
practice of the early church. John the Baptist began such work. 
Séaus made it his own greatest ministry. Paul selected and train- 
ed younger men, notably Timothy #ni Titus and urged them to do 
the same (2). This is the crowning missionary aim of the proclaim- 
er of the good news, not to make himself indispensable but to raise 
up followers to take his place (3). 

b. The Demand of an Indigenous Church. 

Christianity to become permanent in any country must be- 
come native to that land. Great universal principles are applic- 
able to every nation. Before these become useful to the people of 
a country they must be dressed in the garb of that nation, applied 
to its traditions, experiences and aspirations. 

The religious organization and theology of Western 
nations undoubtedly contain great truths which China needs but tre 
Chinese cannot accept as a gift a completely formulated religion. 
It must be worked out in terms of Chinese experience. Western 
churches by their cooperation and love can aid the Chinese in their 
growth in Christian experience, but the indigenous church requires 
that it be encouraged to support itself, govern itself to suit the 
Chinese genius, enrich its life by Chinese thought on theological 
questions and provide for its own extension. These statements 


seem obviously true yet they are difficult of application. 


(1) Robinson, Charles Hemry, "History of Christian Missions." 1915, 


| page 36. 

(2) Tle Tews 2:2 

(3) Glover, Robert H., “The Progress of World Wide Missions.” 1924, 
page 37. 


“a Bint? the founds ng a Md Chive ae. toh Arlyn a RSan i911, 
TALS WO WOM. hin, 


nationalism hes been inoressinely noticeable. This feeling is 
shares in the lite of the ghurch. | Not, all missionaries have been 


oe x a | Sands Pak 
wise in their consideration of this matter as the following quo- 
tation ‘trom an. article in he Caenese Recorder Andseaces 
Heshep s," as a certain missionary has rn nwe renin 

eo Home, ‘ard Tet you work out what will suit you ‘best and most." 
Yes, pe s > is the best Christian way of solving a knotty 

ates edt oth ps not.’ Another says concerning a certain insti- 

ution, "The? institution is established with American money and 
therefore should be conducted to suit Americans." Very well, 
suppose it should be. Still another quotes a Western saying. in a. 
létterto a friend of his, "Beggars ‘are not choosers." But in ©. 
Christ's time, which is so different from ours, beggars did choose. 

A fourth he's beén heard to say that it is a hopeless case: "We 
ieee only second rate people to work with us because they will 
cooperate,” and for him cooperation is simply a one sided business. 
Thus perhaps a few outspoken missionary Christians help drive away 
Chinese workers from Christian institutions like "beavers that 
drive fishes off from the surface of the pond." Then, sooner or 
later a géneral tendency or attitude spreads over the Chinese 
people who hesitate to join hands in Christian work and some of 
wiom Consequently become anti-missidnary thinkers. Particular — 
cases begin | to justify | their being raised into y ahainaneateehananadl (1) 


The Chinese have grown free to express themselves. Here 
is the expression of Y. 9. Wu, Executive Seoretary , Peking Chris- 
tian Student Work Union: "A transplanted religion without being 
adapted ‘to suit ‘native soil, loses “its savor and fails to srow -- 
Let the foreign missionaries change their domineering attitude, if 
they Hold “such en ‘attitude, and wrk ds servants of Christ for the 
Chureh of China." (2) 


Some stulonts of missions preter’ the use of the born 


G ib hed iG tt dh iP 


"National Church, " ‘rather ‘than the, | "Indigenous Church , " on the 


’ Bwe 


ground thet there is ne Antigenous church institution. — tt is the 
nosy hy)" oly eit bene ew’ cae ane gives the increase. Grantine 


AP ky eal ‘< 


(1) Chaos \ Ge one Indi genous Church.” Chinese Recorder. 
’ 8 ieee: ‘1925 , “page 4984 > ce 2 
tz) Wu, Y. P. chitens hidotaer, Auge 2923 5 ba ROCESS 


10 


this we would have a fully "national chureh" that receives from 
the Holy Spirit and the mother missionary church the necessary aid 
in becoming a truly "national church." | 

3. Definition of Terms. 


a. A missionary to China is one who has gone or been sent from 
another country to teach the Christian religion and to work toward 
the building of a Chinese church. 

b. A mission is a group of missionaries and Chinese Christians 
Locally organized for cooperation in building the Kingdom of God 
in any given field. 

¢. The Indigenous Chinese church is one that conserves and 
unifies the truths contained in the Christian religion and in 
China's ancient civilization ane in so doing menifests and express- 
es the religious life and experience of the Chinese Christians in 
a fashion that is native and natural to them oe 


d. Devolution in Missionary Administration is the process of 
trensferring the responsibility for the governing and supporting 
of organized Christianity from the missionaries to the new body of 
Chinese Christians. 


e. The Chinese autonomous clurch means the Chinese church 


governing itself, determing its policies and putting them into 
effect. The work of the missionary becomes auxiliary rather than 
dominating. 


(1) Chao, T. C., “The Indigenous Church." Chinese Recorder. 
Auge 1925, page 497. 


il 


II. ADMINISTRATION OF MISSIONS IN CHINA 


lL. Fou” Beginnings of Christianity in China aap? thety 


ae By Nestorian Missionaries in 635. 

The first begining wasin 063504. Ds, when Nestorian |» | « 
missionaries ‘frém Syria made ‘théir ‘way iclong the trade routes into 
China and “éstablighééd themselves»at the Court of the Tang Dynasty. 
The effort to establish ‘Christianity “in China ‘which seems to shave 


been very sliccessful was over-whelmed in a terrifiepersecution: 
by ‘the Buddhists which took place “in tlie. year 0840 )(1)s0\ Ourpehtef 
source of information*in®regaraet6 theowdrk cofothis mission-is’ 
the famous Nestorian Stone, buried im the Sth century and:re- 
&iscovered. by Chinese workman "in l625 (2}olon vw: 


ore), By®John of Monte Corvinoys#A Franeiscan in 1294. 


| The second “beginning was*made by John of Monte Corvino, 
sent by Popé Nicolas’ IV. with letters ‘addressed’ to Kublai, ‘the 
ruler 6f°Cambalud (Peking)y> Om°his°atrival in’1294°He found the 
Nestorian Mission strongly establishedvand bitterlyvopposedsto his 
mission, “Acedpaing’ to his testimonhy’ thé Nestorians had deviated 
sadly from the Christian*religion; but were powerful and would not 
permit a. Christian of another rite! to proclaim any other than. 
Nestorian doctrines: Johnsof Monte Corvino succeeded; however, in 
baptizing 6000 convertsiin' the first twélve'years. He died soon 
after 1328.0 The’ toleranteTartarndynasty! gave place to’ the» perse- 
cuti sie a NE and" both thé existing: Nestorian’ and Pranci scan 
Continued offering «sever Pe PHneces Lams ) Chitetiantt 
(1) The fetuaae Church nth tee sna yar Seatoreee esp 1922, 

page 91, 82. 


(2) Robinson, Charles Hemry, "History of Christian Missions." 1915, 
pace page 165. 


missions failed to leave any permanent traces of their apparent 
SuCGeSS. 

Robinson (1) states three causes for the failure of this 
second attempt to establish Christianity. 1. The home base furn- 
ished no financial help for the new mission, the missionaries did 
not work for a living; the converts did not support the miss ion=- 
aries and so they received aid from the Emperor, possibly on the 
basis that they were representatives of a friendly foreign power. 
2. The change of dynasties brought opposition and Christians who 
came to be considered foreigners lost all influence with non- 
Christians. 3. A third reason for extinction was the failure to 
train an effective body of Chinese clergy. 

c. By Rieci, a Jesuit in the Sixteenth Century. 

A missionary named Ricci sent out by the Jesuits in 
1582 made a third beginning. The zeal and success of the 
Jesuits stirred the fervor of other Roman Catholic societies who 
sent out missionaries. In spite of conflicts between societies, 
converts in large numbers were gained. In 1617 the converts number- 
ed 13,000. In 1650 they numbered 150,000. In 1671 the Domicans 
had 21 churches, the Franciscans 3 and the Jesuits 159. The | 
number of baptized Christians was 308,780 (1). 

The friendly emperor Kang hsi died in 1721 and his 
successor Yung-Cheng destroyed 300 churches. Succeeding dynasties 
continued offering severe persecution, Christianity did not 


(1) Robinson, Charles Henry, "History of Christian Missions." 
1915,page 173, 177 


13 


bs ut on Ao he ein Be yy ‘ cai By 4 1g & 4 
EPO i) Rau, Rew Rh Le SS GE OD APE” Bhs 


disappear entirely and the s sixteenth contury deginning ree a Adeeat 
toxexunner in & cOntinuous succession eal Roman Catholic migsions 
in China today faba: | | pan 
: ae 8 Robert Morrison (2 Protestant) in 1607, 
r The fourtn, last, and so called modern beginning of 
Chri staan missions in China began with the arrival of Robert 
Morrison in 1807. Morrison's work in China was attended with id 
great ifsioulties. Among them may be mentioned his inability to 
BOCure passage as a missionary on an Rast Indie ship gat ling from 
England. } He hea to sail via Americas Foreigners were prohibited 
from setting foot on | the mainland * China. He had to work secret- 
aya) The Language was. aitfioult and any Chinese who would teach it 
to him aid 89 under penalty of his. life. wm. Milne who joined 
Morrison nn 1813 said of the language , "PO acquire the Chinese 
is a‘work for men with bodies of brass, lungs of steel, Heads of 
oak, hands of spring steel, eyes of eagles, hearts of apostles, 
‘memories of angels and ‘Lives’ of Methuselah." (2) Some Roman °° 
‘Catholic Christians, survivals from the 16th century mission 
‘Helped ‘him with the language. Christians ‘were officially for- 
pidden to set foot onthe mainland of ‘China as late as 1842, The 
pro gréss’of Christianity was slow. 

‘Among ‘the’ redsons for ‘the inertia of the Christian 
‘church may be mentioned, 1. Christianity was exotic and China 
‘was opposed "to Changes brought in from the outside. 2. Western 
nations, presumably Christian, had not treated China with respect. 
oe There had been Schigm in China within Christian ranks over such 


Lae HS 


(1) The Chinese Church Nationel Chitaita an conterence Report. 1922, 
page 91. | 

(2) MacGillivray, D., "A Century of Protestant Missions in China." 
1907, page 2. 


14 


questions as ancestor worship ani 4, Missionary activities were 
not projected with intense earnestness by many societies. In 

1860 there were only fourteen residential centers occupied by 
Protestant missionaries. In the next twenty years down to 1880 
only sixty~five additional residential centers were opened. Rapid 
expansion then began and ninety-nine more centers were opened up 
in 1890. By 1900 one hundred seventy new centers were opened. 
During the next twenty years up to 1920 three hundred thirty-seven 
were added, making a total of six hundred ninety-three centers 
occupied by foreign missionaries. More than forty-eight percent 
of the territory occupied by missionaries has been entered in the 
last twenty-five years. This fact should be remembered as we 
consider the transferring of responsibility to the Chinese church. 

The Boxer massacres of 1900. proved a real turning point 
in the history of the Christian enterprise in China. Above 2,000 
Chinese Protestants, approximately 30,000 Roman Catholic Christians 
and 221 Western Christians including children were martyred that 
year (1). The rapid strides of the faith since then convinee us 
that the blood of the martyrs has indeed proved to be the seed of 
the church. 

Morrison's work in China beginning 1807 was not in an 
indigenous church, nor in a missioh well administered, but rather 
a work of personal pioneering. He managed with difficulty to 
work as a missionary without incurring the penalty of death or 


(1) The Chinese Church National Christian caer erenee Report. 1922, 
page 91. 


expulsion by the, government, By,1842 three British societies and 
four American, organizations had some twenty representatives in 

the. Ampire and. in the Chinese colonies adjacent. , Six converts |. ady 
1860 i naratitate, 3 the agtmnry of, peasy snoxeh atte ed bay 

dong, oPhaisa dhe. Sreah, Patiae Shim, nad peratates, An. de lains. ohana 
for. Chine se and. had succeeded fairly well, r . The avidity of faptern 
nations for trade caused them to break down. SA A BECNBI OS » 
England's. demand, for trade privileges with, China, especially the 


opium trade furnished the pretext for Opium Wars with China. 


These struggles terminated in the qe ine of flong Rane, to the 
British, the opening of thirteen. ports to ‘foreign trade and the. 
payment of large indemnities te) These” open ports furnished the 
opportunities for the free hana of the missionary but the oppor- 
tunity was Lapeipsiiqual at a binge ‘Incbins L8tent’ with the cohtent ‘of 
the’ ‘Cobper he seage.' civecws sof f(otent His tovleonl Dadkpre 

ia alee Aha PAP cSlniticl in 1819 under 

the airedtion of Morrison was-much reVised during this peri od 

of limited privileges “Yor migsioHAry work. Ambne those who’ re- 
“Vib’ed! the: t¥ehdibtion' Were’ Bishop Stuéresctiewsky, a Russtan’ Jew, 
Gitziart whd kate the’ Version sed by ‘the Leaders of ‘the Tai Pihe 
rebeltior in’ 1850," Revs Wm. Deen, and’ Wea. P. Martin (3). °°" 


Ginn at 


ier x ne - 
wi. ele tee tcmena dt My rd lg og 4. 3 
Poretitton of missionaries * ana converts Was. ‘Bavere.. 
LOW. ie the one geet ve souiee.an wich mintioteriag mast aepen 


(1) Rebinagn,, Oharies Henry, TEbatoxy. 2, Curt stdan Missions," 1915, 
Dp 


(2) Moore, E. C., "The Spread of ee Ap in the Modern World." 
1919, page 183. 

(3) Montgomery, Helen Barrett, "The Bible and Missions,” 1920, 
pages 114, 115. 


Converts in such troublesome times were naturally few, but were 

men of strong convictions. From 1860 to 1877 the years were 

spent in entering new fields and extending work in fields already 
claimed, Definite advances were made in educational, medical and 
women's work. A few strong churches began to develop. The China 
Inland Mission was established in 1865, By 1877 Chinese Protestant 
Christians numbered 13,035. Twenty~nine missionary societies, 
twelve American, fifteen British, and two Continental were on the 
field. The missionaries numbered four hundred seventy-three. 

The growth of Chinese membership is worth noting: 


1842 6 Chinese Christians. 
1877 13,035 m sal : 


For the most part the years up to 1877 were a period of pioneering, 
although so called administrative work had begun. 

The foregoing survey of "begi mings” of the missionary 
movement in China will give us sufficient his torical background 
to begin our study of administration. 

2, Missionary Administration in China. 

Efficient administration has meant success to many 
missions, but we should not put too much trust in it alone, for 
even in its best developed form it will avail but little in the 
absence of a whole-souled devotion to and dependence upon Jesus 
Christ. The transformation of lives is the work of God and his 
love is the one great resource on which missionaries must depend. 


Missionary administration may be divided into four 


i= D 


a Poiowea) He Aaiiiess gay tice %o, many, commemiabie 
poo Jo°%8s QQ PRG Wodrd dealing with: the missionaries or individuals. 


& wiGhe« pee dhe® ‘poard dealing: with its missionaries organized. into 
sap at pe "mi ssion.” 
SLLBGEL TS . Au Feu poin by da TAs rf L% 
¢. The board ait with prayer rep wae. igen she in 
AX, Lol equal ‘puithoribys | BOVSN GAH Voor we i BS LOA F 


work 88s @ytthe?teard wil eventually cooperate as an enxiliary 
with the ehurch which is Fee ome nant e Chinese. 


eo 


atrons personality ano apiends ¢ gourd. Pav 3 
sal initia oh ia Le Jn 2807 the first | Protestant period of missionary 
work in Shina, beginnins with Morrison, was “necessarily a stage of 
‘individualism. The | aifticulties, the Isolation and opposition 
AYLS , WEXR ETCUHIG 2 rani wet Los oh weve 7 vie 
Aonanded mon and vonen of great 1 ‘fore and. character. “they © ‘set - 
Lae te tN they moved on ‘their | own ‘initiative, nor were they — i 
castomed to. Jong aeastons {n committees, ge rting ¢ the “composi te # 
Wb ham ¥Oo $65.0 WES Us me. wag Pn 
judgment of the “gzOUD. cl By ae , Ay 


paring the poem ‘of Andividualion | there was ‘no “elose 


ALL inetiti wee O. Odi veer ya 03 % wes th. G Grae 

organ ization 43 Vos woxkers+ ~The aissionsry who nad learned ‘the 
CVLOUE PORE Date ot” he 4 ban 
art. of. eppesl, or ‘who bell most ‘bold, “secured the ‘largest ‘appropri 


ations. from the beard. pee "from friends in the “nother chureh.* 


hw 176 Ax. ¥ Syery Vag Was 
Individual 1 missionaries were po forced to ‘submit to ‘the common 


i @G. Yih ..236 ¥ ae) a Oe Pag. 2 oat wi. Wee Es sit ex A 
, Judgment of the. whole group. Each was more or teas a ‘law unto. 
RR Ha Bs tan [184 was mo. Lemmoer tha ingiviinel, i1..Wag. Dhe 


“{1) Groesbeck, Adam Fenner, "Wield Administration of Missions." 
Chinese "Recorder, April 1925, page ge 
be Gad ae to tao 5 es i ox 
*As a beard secretary the writer has witte aed ene ‘winattg appent 
poral Sertaim sehool bailéding Ubyoel mispionary) #ho was: able, to 
loose the purse strings of Christians in America. The school 
(pps we.s nee so much needed as some other equipment, but the 
they te Ying the building was able ‘to tap sources! of . | 
RORY hice wore of were e ofosed & ng other ieee Ot? ot with meds eoually 


FF iy in Fe a * y 
RS cups of Miesionery For 0 


we ‘ mM . 
Urges’ MS Lat « ‘s hie ia 4  ). : PW hee Te. ot Wd es 4 iB ee 

| woe Rhye ROR g 
Vetrover .9e4, pee "5 Ag 


18 


himsel?. This chance for initiative gave rise to many commendable 
cis hintes which were not adequately related to the enterprise as 

@ whole. Such a method was haphazard, weak in continuity, in- 
effective and disappointing in results (1). 

In Canton so recently as seventeen years ago missionary 
work was completely dominated by individual men and women of 
strong personality and splendid record of service (2). The 
missionaries secured the greater part of the missionary money by 
their own appeals. The representatives of each of the several 
boards were grouped into organizations which were little more than 
fellowship groups of independent workers. The independent mission- 
ary accomplished much, but the day of his furlough, or of sickness 
and of possible death always brought the thoughtful student to the 
idinattigtie that effective cooperation was needed. Indeed the one 
man institution could not meet the demands of China. It seems 
obvious that the missionaries upon sensing the faults of individual- 
ism would seek coordination. However, the most stubborn resistance 
in nearly every case was met from the missionaries themselves. 

Yet the new policy was bound to win. The dominant factor in the 
Canton mission field was no longer the individual. It wae the 
mission. 

bd. Changing to the stage of field organization 
which in the Northern Baptist denomination dates approximately 
(1) Groesbeck, pereie Fenner, "Field Administration of Missions." 

Chinese Recorder, April 1925, page 248. 

(2) Kunkle, J. Stewart, "The Re-Grouping oF Mik lakene Poboon in 


Cantone” International Review of Missions, 
October 1924, page 545. 


19 


from the year of the Boxer uprising brought stormy times emong 
missiouaries who had grown accustomed to a lerge mengure of inte- 
pendence, In 1901 when the reel movenent toward administrative 
organigation begsn the plan evoked .sugh epithets as ."Jesuitism" 
and its promoters were charged with trying to interfere with the. 
work of the Holy Spirit. Dr..T..S,Barbour® who introduced the 
plan. wanted , to. secure symme trical development. of the whole mission 
and to avoid friction among the members, Dr, Barbour's plan, pro- 
vided for a field secretary chosen by the Board who could bring 
their administration to the field personally. The spirit in. 
which this plan was received was not, cordial. | dina 
pe SE the. Santon territory where thirty-six. Aenomine tional, 
groups were working, the. adjustment . from, Andividualism to a... 
denominational missionary organization was realized as not. pO 
the total reform needed, (1). Each denomination,was.carrying a. . 
program just.as if no other groups were sharing in the work. 
Schools, hospitals, evangelistic work were very much duplicated. 
Ag many as eight missions were working in a small county. .,Compe- 
tition was regulated by rules of comity which definitely outlined 
confuston re seulteds + pitere af nate cies ve methods, brought, con- 
fusion, and controversy could not be avoided, This situation 
gave rise to a demand for coordination of missions, Along with 
a °§. Barbour was “Soreign ‘Becretary of the. “American Beptist 
hvtadceiacee Missionary: cuenta de 
(1) Kurikle’, Je "stewart, “tthe ‘He-Crouping ‘of. “Wissionary ‘Fébods in 


Canton." International Review of Missions, October 1924, 
page 545. 


this demand came the expression from the Chinese that any new 
adjustments should take into account their desire for a church 

: whieh should bear decreasingly the stamp of a foreion religion. 

It suffices here to indicate that this is an approach to the third 
stage of missionary administration. Also to any that seven inde- 
pendent Chinese churches established by as many missions united 

in forming what they, call the "Church of Christ in China.” 

These seven churches ere Hongkong, Canton, Fukien, Amoy, Tientsin, 
Foochow, and Peking (1). 

Discussing further the second stage of administration, 
viz», ficld organization, the types have varied among different 
denominations, depending largely whether their form of government 
is Episcopal, Congregational or Presbyterian. Essential elements 
in field organization provide for a periodical meeting of repre- 
sentative delegates, a committee often called the "Field Committee" 
to act ad interim and usually there is an officer whose duties” 
are to superintend the whole mission. Originally in nearly all 
missions the Chinese were not represented in this organization. 
Undoubtedly in the very beginnings the elementary understanding 
of the new Christians furnished an excuse for this lack of repre- 
sentation. As missions have advanced toward stage mumber three 
there has been an increasing representation of Chinese. 

For the most part the western churches have sought to 
transfer their forns of ongenization and 3 ties polity to the 


(1) The Chines Church National Gers ane oe Conference Report, 1922, 
page 82. 


mission field. This is but natural for western churches have 

chosen , what seems best to them and ‘they. want to give the same te 
their missions. _ Western churches have not really considered ‘the 
confusion set up among neighboring missions by these diverse 
methods. os procedure. At has not seriously occurred to the western 
churches. that the eastern mind may, require different forms and modes 
from. those. on which western Christianity prosperse This 1a ok of 
understanding delays the echievenent of maturity of the Chinese 


~-"““The common types of field organization can be evaluated 


by noting strong and weak points in them. 
1. Elements of Strength ‘in“Field Organization. 

Cnity Of ord pram sere werrora « 

Among a group of missionaries thére should be unity. 
Where missionaries are organized, their efforts, their methods, 
their manner of living, their program of action can all conform 
to an aim agreed upon by the group. The work will assume proper 
proportions. No department will be magnified beyond its proper 
propor ti bi put there will be a eninge ee of the 
wholes &* % 
“"* Unity of Judgment. 

*" At best the missionary task is béset by sO many hard 
problems and by so many opportunities for error in judpment, that 
the composite judgment of the whole group is needed. Usually the 
missionary who errs most doés not seek the judgment of others and 
may miss the mark tragically when hé is responsible to no other © 


on the field. The missionary set in an oriental country, where 


customs, ways of thinking, standards of living, economic abilities 
and religious conceptions are all different certainly needs all 
the good judgment that can be commanded from all sources. Without 
doubt the chutch in China has profited by good field organization. 
Beonomy of workers and funds. 

The largeness of the task requires all the personnel 
and money available. Ina mission of sixty missionaries with 
which the writer is well acquainted, the financial organization 
had just grown up without systematic development. A bank cashier 
was sent out as the treasurer and business manager. In his first 
year of active service he saved more than enough to pay his first 
two year's expense. Where workers cooperate they may bear each 
other's tasks during sickness, or furloughs. In a well organized 
mission a smaller number of workers will accomplish as much as 
many more under the individualistic plan. si 

Opportunity for specialization. | 

It is tragic for a man who understands thoroughly the 
work of evangelism to be forced to build houses when he knows 
little of carpentry. The best of workers are limited in some 
arts and they can be assigned to the work they are best fitted to 
do when the field is well organized. Missionary service has of- 
fered many opportunities for specialization including evangelism 
and various types of medical, educational, industrial and social 
work. In a given area one man may be assigned head of the school 


for training ministers. Without organization this specialization 


would scargely.be possibdles cays fy thy 


of bs Westerners, who are skilled in ssa baateni have often. 
ik their, emphesis,.if. indeed. not. their trust, in organizations . 
Deluded. by, the, splendid, showing, of revolving wheels,. all was 
considered well, and both the missionaries.and the home chureh 
pronounced the mission a success. . Missionaries have ever and 
again been forced, back ..to, the consciousness of the supernatural. 
element and of living relationships with God which transcend 
organization as necessary ' for the building of the Kingdom... 


seta Ten, energetic American student - volunteers inspired, by 
passionate appeals for the, "Evangelization of the world in this 
Generation" have gone, forth like, flaming torches to convert China 
quickly, They, found China slow, \but money would hurry ‘the East. 
The West had money and so money has been used freely. . If young 
Christians were too poor to,,train for the ministry. their expenses 


were paid... If a new church ‘uilding was needed, the natural thing 


was to semi to America for the money and to build one quickly. 
Very Likely. tne, Aeaw horn | Christian community was unable or un- 
willing to. support, a pastor, So so. western, money .was used. This 

use of money, did make the machinery move, — Undoubtedly it hastened 
the addition of large, numbers,to the church, rolls, it. erected 
churches, it, made possible the establishment, of expensive church 


programs after the kind we have in the West and it provided for 
the recruiting of men for ministerial training. 

The Chinese and the missionaries are both. discoverins 
now that the church is not truly Chinese, but a western product. 
Pitiful attempts are being made to reduce western grants of money, 
but the Chinese are not anxious to pay for this foreign institution 
when they know the westerners are amply able to continue, We see 
in the course of this paper how the too free use of foreign money 
has stifled the initiative of the Chinese in self-support, self- 
govermment and self-propagation. | 

Western forms of worship, buildings and church program. 

Missionaries from the west naturally conceived of the 
oriental church being propagated along lines in which they had 
participated at home. So they proceeded to establish the same 
forms of church organization, of worship, of finance and doctrine 
as used by the mother church (1). It made little difference that 
the Chinese were accustomed to go singly to a Buddhist temple to 
worship. The western manner of Christian worship is ina church 
edifice of stately proportions and large enough to house the en- 
tire congregation at one sitting. 

Western denominationalism. 

In the west we deplore but accept denominational 4di- 
visions. We know how we came by them They give opportunity 
for various American temperments to express their religious life 
according to conscience and. Seriptural interpretations. 


(1) Exeland T., "The Relation of Mission Boards to Missi onaries.” 
Chinese Recorder, January 1921. 


25 


iy ey 


wisstowpt WORM! only’ be nataral for Chinese Christians to | 

develop vart bas’ dnsepts OF God.” Undoubtedly the Ghristian church 

df China in’ the ages to” come will allow tor various’ typ on on oer 

Ligidus experience! ‘Bat 1b is’ inconceivable ‘hee the division 

made” ‘by the Civil” war th’ Ameriéan shurches “would be weaning? 

for tne 1iFe of ‘chinese Christians. | ‘Wherever ‘our ‘Aenomtnctionaiton 
». est Pat 


Hag’ madd Chri btian “unity more Grziowit in Chine it is a distinct 
weaimess. It “is” ‘Feared that. esters vskea have prized ‘more , 


highly ‘the thought of b prosperous: Chinese! branch of “their denomi - 
nation in ‘Giitnn “tad: tnéy have of a church” ‘tn ‘China that “18 truly 
ding demesoership inoxsases, raking. goo4. atatistical meporta,, Sut 


4% ont Straint ‘of ‘Chinese ‘initiative, 9° 
‘he (Ome Witimate Yaeal of all missionaries has been the 

saving aud deVeloping of ‘Chinese for the Kingdon ‘Of God.” Seven 
those missionaries who hastened out- “to ‘Cndna to tusk’ a ew brant s 
fromthe ‘burriing hoped ‘their doliverts would develop | Cnet stian 
strength. The hissiondries have ‘been ‘Wetins of the. situation ™ 
Which Weceuise "Or the ‘Yhmatlkity of ‘the Chinese made it seem ase 
for’ tel! to dawiing’ w pavernky wbrithae.” Chinese inttietive ae 
not’ given free opportunity for’ development. | “only, by the’ exercise 
of shth Opportunity cota’ the chinese ‘deverop a “church truly thet r 
owit. “UP Ys true that’ iiss tonaries’ trained Chinese ay leadership 
and” Pave’ them Seemingly “wide: dpportunities. “But the missionary 
used’ the” privite ge Se exerdising final cohtrol. “Chinese were to 


*EPtbRh Maccnerssnne Kiibi the plane. efokMemisetepaaren 1Sberics." 


+. Vi 
q 


Chinese Recorder, danvaxry Leki,» 


26 


missionary employed the Chinese. If the Chinese insisted on a 
different interpretation of Scripture or insisted on a method of 
work unapproved by the missionary, was not the outcome inevitably 
his separation from the mission? This situation bred among 
Chinese, a very unfortunate disease, namely, "the habit of follow- 
ing missionaries rather than Chinese." (1) In reality miss ion-~ 
aries in the true sense are the helpers of the Chinese, giving 
them the necessary help in the achievement of Christianity. What 
missionary has not been guilty of referring to the Chinese as 
"his helpers," or “his assistants?" This policy has been product- 
ive of membership increases, making good statistical reports, but 
it has not developed the leadership essential for the growth of 
the indigenous. church. eer. « | 

Ce The Board dealing with missionaries and Chinese in 
equal authority. In the third stage of administration the board 
of control deals with both missionaries and Chinese. The process 
of merging from mission to Chinese church is a delicate one. No 
standardized method has ever been used. Every situation demands 
separate treatment. Conditions such as the attitude, good judg- 
ment and skill of the missionary, the wish of the constituency 
of the home church, the position taken by the board of control, 
the maturity of Chinese leadership including the early years of 
preparation for the indigenous chureh all guage the ease and 
rapidity of the transition. The nationalistic spirit of the 


(1) Ekeland, P., "fhe Relation of Mission Boards to Missionaries.” 
Chinese Recorder, January 1921. 


soe. 
- . 4 


Chinese people forces us to believe that this third stage will be 
successfully negotiated and the fourth stage entered. The third — 
phage: wadon was entered noticeably after 1900 is not "past history," 
for both westerner and Chinese Christian leaders are endeavoring - 
to relate Christianity to the Chinese mini. The third and fourth 
stages will be elaborated upon throughout the succeeding chapters. 
However, the fourth stage is to a considerable extent a matter 
for experiment. 
3. Policies of Mission Boards Toward Devolution. 

Every missionary society maintains e certain aim or 
ideal for its work. This aim or policy does much to shape the 
final result. Questions involved in this aim are such as ;: 1. Is 
it purposed to build local branches of the parent church in China, 
or to establish an independent national church? 2. Have parent 
churches wished to give ecclesiastical independence to new Chinese 
churches? 3. Should there be formal organizations of missionaries 
or should all functions of foreign societies find expression in | 
the indigenous churches? 4, If the China work is set up on the 
basis of a dual organization with both mission and church, how 
shall the devolution of power proceed from the mission to the 
ehurch so as to instill the greatest stalwartness and independence 
into the Chinese church? 

The aim has not always been clearly defined. It cannot 


be stated concisely for each denomination for the policies have 


been progressive. 
os ike © Americ 0, ard. 


; ne 13% ive). mem bey eh 3 arak 


wa pls ps By bonehead thebry: evey” rte nigh has. ‘You 


ve 


aetat LHe Sea VaRAE The” cone eption of an independent church in 
China developed quit’e early. Th 1e26° thé American Board approved 


a statement, 9 ‘portion of which, reads: tg do “they, (the. Bosra) 

expeot, to furnish ‘any a det Geek ee preachers for. mi 

GORE Tne RS gonp iht1O0s¢ Heathen nations must be rendered inde- 
pendent of hristi mdiom.for their r @lirious teachers as soon as 

inte a ‘In no other way can’ this be done than by endeavoring 
to raise up men in every. piace. “.t.“ 7, who may be ordained as. 

sight of the churchés.* (1) 


cooly ~ Rofus, ‘danaerson,” a great. “Gonstrustive. American missionary 
sates PRE POST APEEY Ot, $P*, drercesy..Bgard, for. haar by ss oUF b. 
years, issued 6 comprehensive statement woicgh was embodied in the 
Annual Report. (of. the. ema Board, for 1856, a section of which 
reads: BO a Ee, Ce eae pee a a CaS Peek Lan | 


ae? & Le Vw Se Che 


gee Des "ag we vconeluei the. «a ‘ec: wliptombis seine re simplest , _ 
yeah ws ‘shall find that it embraces 1. the conversion of 
organizing them into.churches, $. giving, tho oe 
dort aban 8 Mompetent: hees ¥e ministry, ana h: ho Renate” then i 
bbe. ghoae.¢ - Be gpentangs and. {in some, cases, ) of, me lla lnc fi 
9) kedone1t y the labors of a missionary ‘society will terminate 
when its churches shell have. phen pne self-subsistent, but generally 
it must carry Its work to’the point of reliable s¢lf-development. 
Then, and not, till, then, may.it advance te, "regions, beyond..”..(2) 


* P 
ar, re 
UF WEA ro B Et B 


ig pS of peilieiniighi: in the Church of the Brethren is 
nost ed. ?P @ « The policy of 
missions wb cR ABD AT Bir Ee cU oor? Lhe hemmeus pour ok wag Stated 


_American Board of Commissioners 
abe on a ea0° Con ES 5) 


(1) eat More aeeers Euat ong: poe ‘ 
C2) es apis ait ie es “< 7 3088 Sin BORES.0Cconmtaeionore, Zoreden 


29 


as follows: 

"Po the end that the native membership may be trained 
and encouraged in every sood work, the missions shall be on the 
alert to develop leaders for all lines of church work from the 
Christians of their number." (1) | 

4 mission is defined as follows: 

"A mission consists of all the missionaries appointed 
by the General Board in a particular country or within certain 
specified territorial limits. A native convert may become a 
missionary if recommended by the mission, the General Board and 
confirmed by Annual Conference." (1) 

In the organization of the Mission, a Field Committee 


is to be elected. The Board's manual states, "Missionaries only 
shall be eligible to serve on said committee." (1.1) On this 


basis a Chinese convert could only serve on this committee if he 
had attained the status of a missionary. These foregoing de- 
Gisions of the General Mission Board have been modified as we 
shall note in chapter five. It seems clear that the Board did 
not give large consideration to the question of devolution of ad- 
ministration, preferring to meet the situation when it arose. ‘Tle 
Church of the Brethren has worked in China since 1908. 

The term mission, strictly speaking, applies only to 
the missionaries, but in actual practice the name has been used 
loosely to embrace the entire work of both Chinese and foreign 
Christians. 


ce The Methodist Episcopal Church. 
The General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal 


(1) Missionary Menual of the General Mission Board, Church of the 
Brethren, page 56. mines , 

(1.1) Missionary Manual of the General Mission Board, Chureh of the 
Brethren, page 46. 


30 


church made no early official oe acy: of its ideal for the 


ee | AAD 5 et Ms 8 Weed ars, Hee i Wit A, : at - Pap 


Po, re ae ey chur che Pigheme ry after ‘the. “work of any group of 
nissionaries has passed its aniviet. stage @ regular Annual Confer- 


ence ate eee te organized. “thie Book of Discipline calls 
thie organization a “aission,” » but the Bad ape is something broader 
than the techni cal definition of ‘that term. The ethodists ‘chose 
‘to develop their ‘ehuréh in Ching, working £ from within, not only 
‘seclestasticalty, but _sdmind stratively. ek 

> May be eons 


| Bishop Bashford speaking before the General Conference 
“fn America “tn: PLB: said o po ad ne $4.90 | 


Par on OA Bil 

be, mans i"Theo whole , ‘teendias: motern, ‘history. dee ee world wide 
‘affiliattons;:.. -; sv Thevkey , toy the 20th. century is internat ional- 
“fem, ses°+ 1G whlbibesa ‘thousand pities if+.- - Methodism - - - 
‘should attempt ‘to reverse the »Divine: Providence, ani abandon her 
‘birthright embodied in John: Wesley's motto, "The world is my 
‘parish, and begin the organization of a national church for China. 
--=-- Hence we are glad to report that after free discussion of 
the national as over against the universal church, the Central 
Conferenee for China on the eloquent appeal of a Chinese states- 
man that the Chinese Methodists keep the cross above the flag and 
maintain their seat around the family hearth stone voted over- 
whelmingly against the national conception and for the maintenance 
no Methodists of their birthright in ecumenical Methodism." 


The situation in the Methodist church has varicd at 
different. times, but in general we may say the aim was not for an 
ecclesiastically independent Chinese church, but rather an organi- 
zation that knew no national boundaries. Methodism's ideal was 
to secure active self-support and active self-propagation, but 
, Gia not emphasize active self-government as an end in itself. It 
L ae AIG. oh PULL $100 ot tae Re bi hes. Fs 
is the +m of: the: Methodist Ep tissopal, enureh, ‘that, there. should 


Vitidin. Lotter te. Mexiean li ag OH OY Whe Theat O2  Vawead 


Kigsions of the Pre abyt rien Ghaxrck im 


(1) Board of Yorelat Missions of the Methodiet Makenapal’ Ghureby ” 
General Conference Journal, 1912, page 979. 


be no discrimination in the choice of a bishop because of race or 
colores (1) i 


d. The Presbyterian Church in U. Se A» 
A statement of the policy of the Board of Foreign 


Missions of the Presbyterian church in the U. S. Ae, indicates 
that the Board recognized the expediency of independent national 
Chinese churches. The Board's position as stated in regard to 
Mexico may be considered indicative of its policy Yor China: 


"The ideal which the Board cherishes earnestly is the 
ideal of a united and independent national Church among each 
people - a Church in which all true believers in Christ would 
be united in one body, fulfilling its own functions of self- 
maintenance, self-government, and self-extension - - - The 
Board heartily rejoices in each step which the Church may take 
toward the further attainment of the ideal which it cherishes 
toy itself and which the Board unreservedly cherishes for it," 

2 . | 


(1) Board of Foreign Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
General Conference Journal, 1896, page 380, 1900, page 421. 
(2) Officiel Letter to Mexican Mission by the Board of Foreign 


Missions of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. A. June 15, 


1908. 


SL 


SE, _ 


dettual end More’ " 
“tne” “taea of an “autonomous “indigenous church pre- 


ennEe nes certain essential “fountetion facts. A suscessful re- 


iwiéwal ba cold ation s bry 


“public ‘gan. ‘only exist when there is. ‘a high’ degree ‘or Literacy, a 


a 


* wh £% @ terry , heey eae) | RES HS +4 4 a 


desire for “Qemocracy, & predominating spirit of rignteousnsss ‘and 
“justice end ‘a Leadership adequate ‘for. ‘the ask’ tn this ‘ hapeer’ 
rit, * ee Yee Dh we 

we aim to note certain essential factors whose presence or absence 


7 he i > tHe gs br et 


“measure the abiitty =} ‘the Chinese | ehur oh to ‘take ‘the’ ‘burden ‘of 


de 
a6 Lie “f litie the 7 


“administration ‘from ‘the Felulenavan ° imong the most important fact 


. 
> tS t, “ 


“one way. be ‘included, 5 vital christian faith and experience, 2 


Leadership, 3, ‘desire ‘for autonomy, “te numerical growth and 5. 
“Literature. mired trom varistian: stien for avinelvia ax 

peso ag ae By Guristientty we mean two things, ‘¢iyst, the Divine 
“Tite ia men rh» in human society ‘through Yesus christ, and second- 


ire Eo} 


ty, the expression of ‘that ate ‘in human foms. * one’ boay of 


a. re 


‘Christians « collectively express ry divine ice ‘throug an organ- 


mines Pew S & 
od i198 


“tzed ‘Yas trrune nt the Church. rt is  eposed, to “transfer the ‘Fesponsi- 


6 
* 


sy at 


“bility. for ‘this. ‘organized lite to the Chinese. Before ‘this is 


- 


&. 


“done we. should inguire into ‘the spirituel growth of the Chinese. 


kre they ‘conscious of the Divine Life ‘through Yesus Christ? “Have 


th : - 4 " 


“they had @ vital christian experience? ‘Bo they maintain an abid- 


eae 4 


Ang faith? i ihineas Christian seal, virile enough to ‘sopply the 
beepers to» a Pred 2316 te % 2 wary) 1 Fon von ap 8 
“motive force for the Chinese y Be | ts the ure of @hinese 


Ohrt ah en. Lite shaigee from the ‘Ampersonel , ‘pantheistic, “nature 
eonception of, Deity, to a, personal, Ons the. Rathay of Jesus and 
(Of all, men? iy ry hinds,.."Bew aite pax ‘y ha 5 re nm China." Isis 


a % 
- 


ane 
" bt ay re * ei tera . “woe a x 

coe um 4 | ® _ rey a bs uy so ? « te Yh 4 Ph Py hae ¥ | ~ ey 7 — ey 43 
Oo} Mars, SAW, tL WS A 2 OA eee, DARE Bare 


a. Spiritual and Moral Strength. 

Iucius C. Porter (1) writing about Chinese in- 
dividual regeneration says, a book should be written about the 
twice born men and women of China (1). He tells the story of a 
man and a woman both products of mission schools, who were married 
and reared to adult years four sons and a daughter all of whom 
have come to know Christ in a personal way and in his strength 
set out to serve China. Mr. Porter tells the story as typical 
of many similar instances. 

The Chinese have a tradition for personal loyalty, but 
they have acquired from Christianity a devotion for principle and 
cause. Mary Ninde Gamewell tells of the tablet in Martyr's Hall, 
Shanghei where the names of nearly two thousand Chinese Christian 
martyrs are inscribed and the list is not complete (2). Chinese 
Christians have persistently been dubbed "rice Christians," on 
the supposition that their faith was held for economic reasons. 
The steadfastness of the Boxer Christians in the face of death 
when in most cases recantation would have saved them not merely 
made impossible the opprobrious epithet but established the fact 
of their faith and vital Christian experience. 

Edwin Marx, writing in the 1924 China Year Book (3) 
gays there is abundant testimony that those in China professing 
the Christian faith have secured a firm grasp on its essential 
(1) Porter, Lucius 0., "China's Challenge to Christianity." 1924, 
(2) Gamewell, Mary Ninde, "New Life Bo hg China." 1919, 


page 191. 
(3) Marx, Edwin, "China Mission Yearbook." 1924, page 93. 


meaning and have acquired a real personal: experience of it. .%" 

yovemen’ Henry) 2s Hodgkimy*inesa sermon (1) /saiad theshope of the 
Chinese church is not merely in)thée ability or characters of her» 
leaders; butiin thevfact that ‘menyopeople; soften quite ordinary 
people ,havereome ‘into 1a Living personalknowledge of God through 
Jesus Christ. © He stated ithat he hadsrepeatedly met such Chinese 
Christians iwho were mot .copies, but swere the real: things Dr. 
Hodgkin»walso stated) he -was:aware of many Christians who :hadodis- 
gtaced their profession, butethat the virile Christians were ade~ 
quate tolay the foundations» for aoChinese .churchs , 

-tiien. The rgeneraleculture of theyChinese ministry» cannot ‘de. 
claimed as ¢qual to the foreign clergy, but there are a.numbercof 
well te ducatedomenyrgraduates: both: in arts and: divinity, whoy (os 
for no monetary sain and inspite of \considerable) financial at- 
traction elsewhere: cladly serve the ‘church \aseministers (2). 

Loo (orbs (Weaknesscin Spiritual and Moral Life. 
‘he Incdanvary 01926; .acconferencescalled by the 1 

National. Christian Gouné@il méetcoat ‘Shanghaix ‘The outstanding: : 
question: was whether or notthe spiritual life of the Christian: 
movement ‘in China is sufficiently ‘potent to meet othe rising tides 
of nationalism and mental .awakeningrin China (3)8 Itowas felt», 
that mechanicel «routine -has:hurried, ifenot crowded out direct 
tenetabsy ntttistine tering. O5tlandd igedeteli y= clnentnkewd otmate 


a } +c : e oo 
7 me ai 


(I) Metin teary ee ‘cndi@ in the Midst." Chinese Recorder, 
January 1923, page 35. 

(2). National Christian : gry Report. ‘of Commi sions: 11922, 1922, 
page 179ees Lvs, 

(3) Editorial, "A Search for a New Christian Program in China." 
Chinese Recorder, February 1926, page 77. 


abril ames ace 


spiritual potency was not the characteristic of the Christian 
movement in China uppermost in the minds of the Chinese. 
Commission I. of the 1922 National Christian Conference 
in China, which studied the "Present state of Christianity in = 
China," agreed that a fundamental weakness of the world wide 
church, but especially in China is a shallowness of spiritual 
apprehension and insight into Christianity. Chinese do not. dig 
deep enough into Christianity to experience its real essence. 
In moral matters some professing Christians give short weight, 
practice usury, are not careful to tell the truth, tolerate super-. 


stition, do not abstain from gabling and intemperance, and fail 


to detach themselves from the practice of polygamy (1). While 


most of these sins are not uncommon among Christians of any land 
their prevalence in China does not let the church stnad out 
sufficiently clean from the sins of non-Christians. ; 

2. Leadership for the Indigenous Church. 

The missionaries have ever purposed to develop an in- 
digenous leadership. The widom and ingenuity of the missionary 
has always been taxed to know how, to secure and train this leader- 
ship. In the pioneer period leadership was selected from the 
more zealous and intelligent members of the local congregation. 

The missionaries have endeavored to train leadership in the 
mission schools. Some of the difficulties of securing recruits are 
the obstructionist policy followed by some of the older pastors 


(1) The National Christian Conference Report of Commission. 1922, 
pages 196, 198. 


against younger men,,the, conditions of self-denial, limitations 
as) to, duitiative and authority. and imperfect relations with the 
missionaries (1) + .Ne -can,consider the question of leadership 


‘from three angle s- , .a-,The present, supply, De The present needs. 
¢« Factors in developing leadership. 9... |, ai 
Claimed wmemtag PppsentsSupplye : a naw era tu thw Bevelnttos 
wide ig hs «(The world Missionary Atlas numbers the total 
staff of ea helesliertdiaes workers at 27,133. Of these 1,966 
are ordained men, 18,166 wnordained men, and, 6,846 women (2) — 
The: inerease,of Chinese workers has-been,amazing,, In 1907 the Z 
Chinese. salaried workers. outnumbered the foreign. workers ‘s ‘to 
ones, In. 19134, three, to, one, and in 19ee,, six. to one. (3). ‘The _ 
reaction of: the. Christian, teaching. is.produging men, who stand | 
beside: anyyin, the, world (4) +, Among the. produc ts. of Chri stian | 
schools: who, stand. high,may, be. mentioned. Dr» Sze. and Dre Koo, 
Chinese ministers: to, Washington, and London,, lr, Brae Koo, China’: Ss 
representetive, to. the, recent. Geneva opium conference, "tre, Magi 
Yui, representative to ‘the. ,Mashinaton, ArRB, conference, and Dr. 
Wang vho is Ondane'n, are aentenire on, dhe, pened, of suiges of the 
International Court jat the, Hague (5)6 ojo. 9 | 


ity WAR wt Se Bi witty ew y e ey 


heap Fed 


ay Nettona Christian ‘véaberends.* * Repai't of Commission. sshaice 


(2) “WoRla ise tonary digeeedo2s"3 es Mes bi. cy a. Warhand et bi 

(3) Marx; Edwin hina oat here ) 1 

(4) Hodgkin, Henry T., "A Child 2 haat Pe ek Recordér, 

January hg page 35. 

5) eer paet ged oe. Avnet »- "Contribution of . ecneiatts Education 

(2) National. Ghrietian ots China in, gareeet ‘Christian Education." 
» page .3¢ 49 


Heal Se oth 
a le 
hee 


cs!) 2 bee ol 
Wie the} 


In 1922 more than half of the twelve hundred delegates 
to the National Christian Conference were Chinese. ‘These in- 
cluded men with high degrees. Men who could speak English 


better than the missionaries could speak Chinese. The mission- 


aries recognized with joy the rising Chinese leadership and pro- 
claimed 1922 as the beginning of a new era in the devolution of 
missionary administration (1). | 
b. Present Needs. 
In the face of splendid leadership existing the 
commission on Leadership in the 1922 National Christian Confer- 


ence stated that no greater problem confronts the Chinese church 


today than securing training and maintaining adequate leadership. 


The types of pastors needed were given as, 1. spiritual leaders, 


37 


2. intellectual leaders, 3. congregational leaders, 4. evangelists, ~ 


5. directors of religious education and 6. leaders of union effort. 


The commission did not feel able to reduce to figures, the number 


needed, but declared the present supply totally inadequate (2). 
Ge Factors in Developing Leadership. 

Two distinct fnotors enter into the training of 
Chinese leadership, the Chinese to be trained and the missionary 
who trains. Back of the former is a constituency of Chinese, 
probably unsympathetic and with many traditions at variance with 
the Christian ideal. Back of the missionary is a mission and a 
Fleming, D. J., "Whither Bound in Migsions." 1925, page 157. 


} 
) National Christian Conference, "Report of Commission." IV 
| 1922, page 549. 


home church which may.or may not maintain an attitude helpful,in 
developing a-leadership that can take over the supervision of the 
‘Chinese .church., T,;T, Lew,in an address, before the ‘Peking, 
Missionary, Association (1) suggests afew propositions on the». 


cd eee sie ie mecca Ce ae 
eee eT be Low | hee se ee Nee ree ipa ade 
Rott gin Be ag nti as bre cope ier a 
‘or Chinese churches there has developed « very tccorvanste.disena 
f following the ¢ missionszies rather, than the Chinese... 


Fe a : ¢ 
at fue! Gan ie hie 5 P 


of Ching <The problem.of leadership.dmplies specialization, and... 
the Sa rhe allowed to, develop according to 


“his om capacity, which means a "square peg should not be put in 

& round hole. odieadership, aust have practice and favorable con- 
ditions for this. .should .be provided. ,.0ne of the greatest, tasks 
for, the missionary is to supply the inspiration thet makes the 
ciaiienianidiiaiaas Willing and cepable.of experiencing a (Gethsemane. 


; 2 . ate he PP Laake week. Wes PHOS. PORES | RP cbs ao 4d 
ihe comet There is gy present a strong sigue in,the heart of... 


Chinese, Christians. Its objective is not always clearly defined. 
It is a desire for independence, a striving after nationalism, a 
heart burning to experience Jesus ani to be rid of all ecclesiasti- 
cism that prevents. ROLAE AAR ihn, at AML NEBR 2 a. hen Lm, Lors«. 
spiritual autonomy, co ianaentas ‘for the chureh to. 20, indigenous 

and a feeling that Chinese ete “and. atloald. produce ys a Christian 
literature and ideals. 


(0 nak a bi, "Training | of the Future Leaders of the Chinese 
Church." Chinese Recorder, March 1921, page 161. 


a - ae hs Fa ee rr Ae oD. adi aah | ‘i? ae Adak & 
bey , \ wit ’ La, | yy Cor, creer ys Tene \ thor etast yy ra wt Pees See wane 
—_—— bil « ie ge ee el J ( nA i ) es wt Tee 2 > Wp af \ ri ; < Dsih eg N Ke a! Plt ee = 
“Ae Tj er tN Gee oe ing ys : ; Fa ai, ome NRG wd (Aa rate shucttt-- 2 A ld oh eden os we “ft ay ! -) UN A Ep 
a re ia ie ca ta Sy: ide» ibaa br * ah , “te vee wah ; ay, Po hs ‘ ; mauih 
hy NF es : , 
A a h : 


Ta, i . | 39 


Dr. John R. Mott in a conference at Shanghai in January 
1926, spoke of the rising tide that exists in the Chinese church 
(1). The transfer of administrative responsibility from the 
foreign missionaries to the Chinese church could not be effected 
‘if the latter were unwilling. The desire is of primary importance. 
. Meany difficulties confront the Christian movement in China. ‘The 
way shead is not clear. If perhaps the goal is definite the way 
to it is at least not obvious. | 
K. 7. Chung, Secretary of the National Christian Council 
of China after traveling in eight provinces of China and touching 
thirty-three cities, states his impressions of the yearnings of 
the Chinese church under three points (2). 
' @ A Desire to see Christ. 


There is a craving for the reality of Christian 
faith. From where is the strength of the Christian church to 
come if not borne out of a vital experience with Christianity. 
There is a yearning to see Christianity with their own spiritual 
eyes and seeing Him through the eyes of the foreign missionaries 
is not sufficient. jE ee ae Oe 


(1) Wei, Francis, "Waking Christianity Live in China." Chinese 
: Recorder, February 1926, page 120. 
(2) Chung, K. T., "The Yearnings of the Chinese Gta »" China 
Mission Yearbook, 1926, page 86. 


40 


they thoogd. A Search«for « 


fhe spiritual experiences of China have been ° 
carried from generation:to generation by a Buddhistic and Con- 
fucian Literature.» The Gospel ought to: be preached in the language 
of the people.” Not only in Chinese, but. in a wey that the spirit- 
ual mind of Chinese,can understand. Chinese can do this for 
Chinese when once China develops a Chinese Moody, a Chinese 
Wesley ,° or a@:Chinese’ Mott... The Chinese Church is''yearnine for & 
daring application of Christianity to meet the needs of rural life, 
home industry and of the intellectual group. Chinese pastors and 
leaders need to be ennobled and memorialized by the Chinese. 

ey Am Effort to Builé up a Representative Chinese Church. 

Bverywhere the questions are being asked, "What 
isthe status of the’ Chinese church?" "What is the relationship 
of church and mission?” These questions touch ‘the whole problem 
of finding an adequate expression for spiritual aspirations. | 
This desire for autonomy is not a selfish seeking after power and 
authority, bus a pret hovel opment, of the. spiritual and physical 


Bayes ae MAN e vt 


eK taht 


mr One of the “iran Se aadinad word from the Chinese Chris- 
reefeae in one of its missions, not long ago, that the Chinese had 
decided the. Sine: mama ‘poae8 for ee to” ‘take. Over, the whole. manage - 
ment of the work of, the mission wm, ca the conviction had been 
hg dn upon then. scadt these could ‘not be a Chinese church until 


(1) Present Situation in China and its Significance for Christian 
Missions. 1925, page 236 


they themselves assumed responsibility for conducting its affairs. 
| They still want the missionary, but, Shey want him no longer to 
direct affairs, but to assiste 

These aspirations of the Chinese are paying the way for 
the transfer of missionary administration to the Chinese church. 
4, Numerical Growth. 

The Chinese Protestant churches give 402,539 as the 
figure for their membership, but these are all communicants. In~ 
eluding the persons under Christian instruction and the children 
of Christian families the Protestant Christian community numbers 
795,075 (1). | 

The usual estimate of China's population is 400,000,000. 
The Christian Community constitutes only a fraction of one per- 
cent of the population. Can the influence or ability of the 
Christien church be estimated on the basis of numbers? It will 
freely be admitted that Christianity has exerted an influence 
in China quite out of proportion to the number of church members 


(2). | 
Commission I of the National Christian Conference in 


1922 reported the growth in numbers of Christian Communicants 

as follows (3) | 

(1} World Missionary Atlas. 1925, page 77. 

(2) Porter, Lucius, "China's Challenge to Christianity, 1924, 
page 182. 

(3) National Christian Conference. 1922, pages 82, 144. 


hia 


(42 


Yoar _ Communicants — Net Increase Ratio of Growth 


AUK RVLOM BROW. & ake LeaSeeot TRAN in. FOuUwwer CnNUuPehneesy 
‘1814. » 
1842~ G2ALOCLOe 26 2640 oF Fhe O2cer may 
1857 less ‘than 500 
187Phich they arelEgS1ge> reedy. 
1889. 32,287 
51900terature. 85 ,000 74,713 127% (11 yr. period) 
1906 178,251 93,251 109% ( 6 ‘yr. period) 
1910 Pyv@gh GhhIZeee2uge Chrietieaen Literature is 
1913 207,747 29,496 16% ( 7 yrs period) 
LOlé4ws cannot OBES, OOos emo Lee a7 »556 I. VOOCOMLE 3% eh IU ELS 
1915 268 , 652 15 ,652 6% 
WIRES thers ic B2QBPlSG amount of ChREzee7 oki. ant git 
1917 312,970 | 18,831 6% 
LGLGeblie for Ltsgeptation, The 1982,00e14 iiss iozog; 
1920 $66,000 21,126 6 
YEeSSied saat wh 402,539 sehen Of ChIB6 pSSSe.uoat | ox: 9% (1) 


- othe overwhelming majority of contemporary environment 
“being non-Christian will undoubtedly act as a wéicht to Christian 
‘Ldeals. But from the ‘standpoint of numbers wé’s¢e No reason why 
the Chinese church is not strong enoumi “to achieve éavoneuy. 
slates \\eFoursfifths China's Christians are possessed of less: 
othan twenty-five years ‘experience in the Christian life. “Many” 
have phad: less ‘than ténsyears’ Christian experience. This ‘lack. 
Of maturity isa factor ‘requiring consideration in placing the 
‘responsibility of othe church ‘on ‘shoulders so .young. ‘Timothy Tt. 
Lew writing in the Chinese Recorder (2): says; leadership needs 
oto be gradually developedvand ripened. ‘There are cases where ® 
experienced men get impatient with beginners. In the older 
Christian communities possessing mature 1 neneEey devolution in 

imbeod iano via We eOGI'O 

“(Q)- ‘Worla. ii oe data xe Atlas. 1925, “page “Te 


2) Lewy Taecfape"fraining»:of the Future Leaders of the Chinese 
Church.” Chinese Recorder, March 1921, page 165. 


se on % be in cM oe ’ i * 3 ee ee Pe ae eee ene , | 
4 e%F yey wl yy, ‘ 4 m Ghee "f zs ¢ “ae eae P : ‘6 a ty BE 
Mat) Le elk ich yet ited ET abe a Ca “Y if a Bee A a, as ior te Mud se vB aed FY al ? 
ae a ~ 2, a. * v Vy mt ‘ 
fo we ce ae HS ee oe whe kn Ooh eH c'} te pee entry? tte -53 . Aun 2 
whe a EF $k ro VOQAT BAR 8 % Rik BR Ey Of ELT. Re EA ae Pile! » 
> EM Yee te ‘ed i OP ei Tun é or pea wy t*7 tp te I : or ocr 
L oeg Nad pata t i a ae ag Bi dd, oe ebay ey TS, SP te Sue Mm We LE ay nt bof MOB, ch oe SER Rt 
; ad ' ‘Sean es 


008, HRY IE 
én eh Su 


aaa ba TENA ES SPO Sa 


wt re dept AL a ore ah eae gp ttl ee tpl ihn bin the sath adie ioe, 


administration should take place faster than in younger churches. 
The younger following the lead of the older may undertake tasks 
for which they are not yet ready. | 

5. Literature. 

Fresh challenging Christian Literature is so important 
that we cannot conceive of the Chinese church becoming indigenous 
unless there is a goodly amount of Chinese skill ana initiative 
available for its production. The 1910 World Missionary Conference 
reported that the whole system of Chinese education and the train- 
ing of the Chinese mind discouraged independent thought. The 
capacity is there, but the unquestioning attitude of acceptance of 
the past did not make the Chinese an inquisitive shholor (1). 

iT, G. Chao writing in the Chinese Recorder for 1925 
states that the Chinese church does not have an indigenous liter- 
ature. He refers not to propagandist writings but to literature 
that presents the truths of Christianity to enrich the lives of 
those within the church as well as to evangelize those outside. 
He notes a dearth of literature that has life, which is: touched 
by a throbbing Chinese heart and can touch other Chinese hearts 
because it comes out of the subtle life material of the ancient 
Chinese blood (2). He feels a need for literature having a 
sense of triumph and leisure, a feeling of composure, and an 
assurance of intellectual beauty which western Christians are 
unable to produce in Chinese. as aa 
(1) The Church on the Mission Field. Report of Commission II 

Edinburg World Missionary Conference. 1910, page 259. 


(2) Chao, T. C., "fhe Indigenous Church.” Chinese Recorder 
August 1925, page 502. 


pees Gta ee a ak er ere a A re ee 9. Salat Be a PRS MEY + MRE NS pe pin pearsan AST a ee — ari i I re 
. en ; a 


44 


IVs BOVYZBEGTS TOWARD BRVOLOVION TR ADMEPIOTHAT LOR 


Elijah S. Nieh writing in the 1924 China Year Book, 
Le Reoperation tor Devolutiden by Nimes edie t 
also deplores the fact that 1rtératur “production has been domi- 
Kiaglonarias have from. the ‘ell inci tat batore thake 
nated by the foreigners, but says Christian schools have fostered 
ninda with taryion dogreus of clearness, Pub on. tue whole witn 
Chinese expression in literature and as a result li erary talent 
substantial unenimity . che. future Gainese.<hurch ag the orown 
is springing up in t ; younger generation. The writing done by 
of all theip efforts. The.churcheas euppotting the miesionaried 
Chinese is gradually coming into ah yoga Great Christian 


heave deen. aoe . conceive of thie idmal. the miaewlonscy ag # 
writers are not f nee in a day gore China will have to be ‘patient 
fomineany. = ra reoumied.. by. & @vowp ot sanvyarta hes Seen. the 
until ae eee its part (1). At present Pines” ‘are translat- 
pian t ekichauane OF: & tmijoriiy of memderc in western lan 


ing many great Christian il written by western writers. Such 
someption has not obied the miestenmary in making real bie igeal 
translations have a Chinese interpretation = to be achieved by 
of & Chine ve..charch, tally dudigenoug. on 4, MORI. ven 
western translaters. 
thay the. weetearn supporters.of missions ook for the total tie. 
ure, Toy. oomvertg rather than for data dmwiieatina the prowess 
of Chinese church «utenouy. 
Rolent Allen dm aie beook,.."“Misoionary Methods, St. 
Penh te and Jue," brings «. varn..o0r.oug iodto tment. age inet 
ni.mdonery policy.,..He eontanda taat misvutjensries have Lenorod 
St. Peale mo Fhbede end, imetead have founded churches, wire tangh? 
them, te Leen om forcimmera, nave OWALt ap ¢pgeniealiows so one 
DeNSive.thar ouey nave .to be cupperted with outeids money aud 
thak cum theargiof ana-indigenoud, due ie defeated st means 
every. twwe.by..cur oraghice Chie In mise dormer adoiniatration the 
nigglomarias Awre,uguelly entewed a dervliary, pucchke sdk ground, 
‘ evected houses, And settled dow far a,hite time az ohiat 
aims nd ghae bo os ty the district, Poveign gomoy has boc uged So 
(1) Nieh, Elijah S., "The Present Situation th Regard to 
Christian Literature." China Mission Year Book 1924, 


(2) ePagei 438s Jone, “Methods of Organiaing Mieci ousry Chur HS 
Ste Foulk*s: and Ours.” Chinese Recorter, May 191s page 261, 


s 


IV. MOVEMENTS TOWARD DEVOLUTION IN ADMINISTRATION 


1. Preparation for Devolution by Missionaries. 
Missionaries have from the beginning set before their 


minds with varying degrees of clearness, but on the whole with 
substantial unanimity, the future Chinese church as the crown 
of all their efforts. The churches supporting the missionaries 
have been slow to conceive of this ideal. The missionary as a 
dominant figure surrounded by a group of converts has been the 
past conception of & majority of members in western lands. This 
conception hes not sided the missionary in making real his ideal 
of a Chinese church, fully indigenous and autonomous. Even 
today the western supporters of missions look for the total fig- 
ure for converts rather than for data indicating the progress 
of Chinese church autonomy. 

Roland Allen in his book, "Missionary Methods, St. 
Paul's and Ours,” brings a very serious indictment against 
missionary policy. He contends that missionaries have ignored 
St. Paul's methods and instead have founded churches, have taught 
them to lean on foreigners, have built up organizations so ex- 
pensive that they have to be supported with outside money and 
that our theory of an indigenous church is defeated at nearly 
every turn by our practice (1). In missionary administration the 
missionaries have usually entered a territory, purchased ground, 
erected houses, and settled down for a life time as chief 
administrators of the district. Foreign money has been used to 


(1) McWherter, James, "Methods of Organizing Missionary Churches, 
St. Paul's and Ours." Chinese Recorder, May 1915, page 281. 


ni tiger ae ir 2 Pee 5 wr Feng i he RET IS EG 
ee aT INS SPN MIRE MIELE AN FREI IAT cg ORS ME RE ae ei TS eT i 


AG 


» build churches, to pay evangelists and in some cases children. 
were paid to come to school. “Missionaries did the baptizing, 
»@iseciplined the members and administered the sacraments. Mission- 
aries were anxious to do some thing for their converts and did 
too much, They did far more for them than with them. 

The results of such a policy seemed successful, Hany 
missions: were established, and mpgs: ped were multiplied in number 
Are the results real or es Ray ema ta Christianity Indigenous 
ho only exotic? oe Hen ype yoann Pom 
¥ hed ‘Teoretieally ‘the bth comltia’ have favored the. in- 

‘aigenous: ‘ehureh ; have believed in race equality and desired 
tpaldthebisos with. +he® Chinese. Practically the race superiority 
and western civilization complex have prevented the full reali- 
zation of the ‘theory, One'infssionary under vexation said to a 
‘Sompany:.of ‘Chine se ‘Leaders, “"We are here to be obeyed." Then the 
Chinese asked if they were hired servants comparable to harvest 
hends and they received an affirmative reply. A young ni ssionary 
once preached on Acts S:1-10, ‘statihe without a blush that the 
beautiful gate was the church, Peter and John the missionaries 
and the berger was the® Chine se church.” ‘Leaders, in the Chinese 
phew wt © Deveten aint! experienced, “have lost heart because they 
were being snubbed when suggesting new methods or improved plans 
for the expansion of the church's influence. he se indictments 
vm * be universally applied to all. Rone oezies »: but they vepre- 
sent weaknesses: y sustiotentiy noticeable ‘to ‘be. mentioned. in. the 


ah f 
bla $ 
ial eal 
a ee 


lant. quarker pala cantury in Three pe biponal somiorunees wea 
public press (1). ‘There has been no unity of agreement when the 
we lundmrka in the oromreos of Tae Chine shark. Dae me 
Chinese church can betone autonomous. The tenflene y has Been to 


Epos 


put the time too ‘Par’ ‘in “the” “distance Father ‘than ‘suffer » the’ in-~ 


ha 


we 
Amwh 


mediate éonséquences of the transfer now, a still greater lose 
is being reaped by postponement (1). Naturally such a sweeping 
statement tiust be modified by the present  condftion of any given 


¥ 1 gi , in seo rai Pes o> eet eG ¢ ae A a 3 Sys) weed of 
} AA. GP te Maa 44 Sah te Ge A OR Ee eee Bee Rea? ee 
ry 4 “ns a ene 


Sh YGARS OMe 
oe (wey “dnad’ “writing ‘in’ ‘the: “higust {925° Chinese Redoraer, 


says the ‘iuroh “urgently needs an "sndtgenous ministry. ‘nine * 
church has.not trained men that have sufficient. gag ol oe 
their ow civilization, and ‘that understand the génius of ‘their 


own, culture and.heritage," “It. has made. them, “halt @ US 
"he chureh has not dreaned. before et there ute * te oe ane 


an indigenous .church .and. ther oe has not pr d.an indigenous 
i ie to meet the situation it now fades.” (2) as 


Sy - - - a4 An 
¥ i ah <4, Yh 


The foregoing ‘sritieiens represent’ the pessial stio 
side of the ‘preparation by nissionartes for devolution of admini- 


stration. It is quite’ gommon for more to ‘be written’ ‘abéut “the 


lis of a situation ‘that ‘its’ perfections. The ‘Polrowlag pe pages 


of this “chapter wilt show “Ena the ‘great bulk of ‘aisstonary. seated 
effort is sincerely in the direction or a indigenous ehurch. 
ne’ Poxing iis si onary Association on November 17, 1925, pnnees 
eenolutions “which faelud oa" ‘the: “étiéwne statenent, tHe aré in 


full.sympathy with, the.efforts,of the Chine 9) le found, .. 
a, ‘truly Ialigensus: ‘Chinese Christian ¢ anon ca Gs th ae 
1d mage the Chinese anurin weak and 


2 three Hationel Conferences. 


the: souperative spizit has. Ring 'seseie @urine” ‘the 


“ r } ia ps , DY sy o> shy, ae 4 pe 4 i + Ys ure , ae 
EM te & de | i gs Pe HES; 4 cm) LOt rie y fe 3 FLL t Hy 2 LOT. is THs rok e $P » rae | 4 Wr. A. a 


(1) Reese, We Someent Persona Relations Between Missionaries aie 
aad ese. Wa skerse" peta ae nae ae S26 

(3) chee stil ibs “ a ro a seek e Pou 
’ ‘page 499 © i ' 


(3) Pek ng ete Association, "Resolutions." Chinese Recordet, 
December 1925, page 238. 


last quarter of a century in three national conferences which 
are landmarks in the progress of the Chinese chtireh. They are 
the Morrison Centenary Conference of 1907, thé Sianghai National 
Missionary Conference of 1913, and the Shanghai National Christian 
Conference of 1922. o | | 
“© gl the Morrison Centenary Conference 1907. 
 whas e@onference was composed of delegates chosen 

from practically every missionary society working in China. It 

was a great celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the 
beginning of Protestant Christian effort. in Chinae ‘When we are 
tola that it was a meeting of missionaries only, we natural ly 
wonder why the Chinese dia not participate. There was no schism 
between missionaries and Chinese Christians, for remarkable as 
it seems, neither of them were conscious of the incongruity of 
the absence of participation by the national Christians. This 
statement made by Fletcher Brockman in the October 1924 Inter- 
national Review of Missions seems almost unbelievable, especially 
since the one outstanding issue before the conference was cooper- 
ation (1). bn Ag 

fhe loud clamoring for nationalism of 1926 was just 

as conspicuously absent in 1907. The persecution of the Manchu 
and riatoule SP the “14tevatt tat Wane the oninese church wen and 
timid. Probably this situation should also be orédited to a 
paternal type of missionary administration. The church, while 
(1) See ape ara ‘Christian’ a he in 


China.” Interna view of ‘Missions, October 1924, 
Page ie, ? 


quite. existent, was was,a. thing, to be mothered, ‘rather than to give § 
self, éenvenstaiis , eyes who were a powr for Christ 
_ dn any. national,sense,were unknown. Neth iw 

| ‘ _ The. conference being cons¢ious. of, the. folly of over=" 
aaatiay recommended that. different sections ofthe same denomi- 
-national, family mite.) The.pertinency of this suggestion is. 
-made obvious by knowing there, were, six varieti es. of Presbyterians, 
five.of Anglicans, and.of Methodists six, each with a different 
name .in. Chinese, The suggested changes have largely materialized. 
This conference was.the beginning of: the cooperative spirit which 
_gave-birth.to,.cooperation in, the Peking, Union, Nanking, Fukien, 
and, Shantung: Universities. :'. ‘he cont 


Conference of «1913. 
‘~The Shanghai, Conference was a direct outgrowth of | 
the Edinburg, Seotland World Missionary Conference of 1910... 
Edinburg, conference. was a notable gathering of representatives 
of missionary. socleties of all lands, met to: -consider cooperation 
pand, the »pro jection of the Gospel in ‘iunoccupied fie lass: This con- 
ference appointed a continuation, committee to continue the good 
work of the conference. The committee faced ‘the need for better 
relations between (the missionary agencies.on the home fields and. 
the leaders ofthe church im: the mission:fields. <At. the request 
of the continuation committee, their chairman, Dre John Rs Mott, 
‘planned, unhurrie@ visits to, the several mission lands. ». 
the fire » Phe, 1916 conference din China indicated strikingly a.’ 


50 


changed situation over the 1907 conference for here about one-third 


of the members of the conference were Chine se. Among them were 
Reve Chen Ching Yi, who had distinguished himself at the Edinburg 
Conference, Hon. C. T. Wang, who served as vice-president of the 
National Senate, lir. David Yui, and President Chang Po Ling of 
Nankai College. The Chinese church having been freed from the 
tyranny of Manchu rule when the Republic was established in 1911, 
quickly released national leaders who took their place along side 
of the ablest missionary leaders. 

The 1913 conference was not a delegate body. Its 
members were not authorized by an organization, but came at the 
personal invitation of Dr. Mott. The conference appointed a con- 
tinuation committee, (which was not done at the 1907 conference) 
instructing it to carry out the purposes of the conference until 
a duly authorized National Christian Conference could be held. 
The members of the conference not being authorized by their home 
constituencies could not give authority to their continuation con- 
mittee, but it was only to serve until in the near future a duly 
delegated National Christian Council could be held. The world 
war delayed this conference, so it was not held until in 1922. 

¢. The National Christian Conference of 1922 at Shanghai. 

The 1922 Conference was formed of delegates duly 
appointed by churches, missions, the Christian universities, the 
Yo Me Cs As, the Y. W. CG. A., and other Christian bodies. For 
the first time in China representative Christian Opinion found 


a 


51 


national 4nd united expression. ©The “donference achieved the nopes 
of°115 years and the desire of the 1907 conference. For the basis 
of represehtation of the ‘more! thin'1000° delerates, ath Chinese’ 
delegate represented about 1000 "Chinese. Christians ahd éach mission- 
ary 20 of his’ kind (1))°° The Leadérs ih plaming for the conreru’ 
ence’ found’ that ‘the fateful years sinte the war hal furnished & 
full harvest’ of urgent issues for consideration. By far the over- 
towering question-was}°The Chinése’ Church. Associated with it” 
were, the rélation of missionaries to the church, the loss of 
prestige of western Chri stians brought nay el their sins exposed 
in the war. ) ’ | 
“9°00 fhe @emand for self expressidn had been steadily gcrow- 
ing so that in° 1919, the propdsed, "Chéiria for Christ Movement," 
met with no mild résporise because it’ represented an agency through 
which Chinese’ ‘night express the spirit: of the indigenous church” | 
unfettered: ‘by foreign influence,” ‘During this” conference the 130 
independent orgentkatione: were” eaught’ up in en idea of 2 ¢o- 
ordina ted: end “cooperative: ‘chureh. © ‘Phe Conkabde' church moved Mobira 
the 2 died of Christian unity, and. At faced away from Aisunity, The 
memorable words Spoken n° qT, , en, expressed the feeling, , "they 
agreed to aifter, but resolved to Love. * Af NS CMe 

4 The conference felt ee aeehan ity in China wes neem bed 


ideheins it was +. yetiuos Hel tetons Wak tever sips could be 


: ‘ V1, ore ape 
(a) bette Church? “the National tie uk as A eat oleae, 1922 
page 4. 


52 


taken to make the church indigenous would be of great value. All 
agreed that the church leadership must pass into Chinese hands. 

How and when was not such a clear matter. Many Chinese felt for 
them to take over the existent machinery of the church with its 
big budgets and machinery would be like David domming Saul's armor. 
It was agreed that the position of the missionary must be neither 
over nor under the Chinese church, but with it. 

The theological controversy of the west which has. also 
found its way into China was consciously avoided, but without 
success. Like a disturbing monster it announced its unwelcome 
presence... The business committee ably headed by Dr. D. 2. 7. 
Yui brought in a masterful statement on faith to which the con- 
ference by practically unanimous vote agreed and then burst into 
singing the Doxology, so great was the joy in finding a common 
agreement. The statement of faith reads, "We the members of the 
Conference joyfully confess our faith in, end renew our allegiance 
te, God the Father ge we Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord and 
Savior, who loved us and gave himself for’ our sins, and the Holy 
Spirit, the Lord and giver of life; and acknowledge our loyalty 
to the Holy Scriptures, as the supreme suide of faith and conduct 
and to the fundamental Christian beliefs held by the churches to 
which we severally belong." (1) 

Toward the end of the conference the significant step 
was taken in the appointment of a National Christian Council. 

The purpose was toestablish an instrument to be of servide in 
the building of the Chinese indigenous church. 


(1) Chinese Church, The National Christian Conference Report. 
19228, vege 693. 


ee 


3. The National Christian Council of China (1). 
a. The Constitutional Functions of the Council. 

The Christian church in China was reborn in a new 
sense in 1922 with the setting up of the National Christian 
Council in China. 

To understand the Council its functions should be 
noted. 1. In the first place, it does not deal with questions 
of organic church unity. All questions of ecclesiastical nature 
are to be dealt with by the churches concerned. 2. The Council 
has no legislative or mandatory authority. It is not a super- 
church or a super-mission board. 3. It does not deal with 
theological differences. | 

The constitution of the Council provides for the 
functions of the Council as follows: 

1. To foster and express the fellowship and unity of 
the Christian ohurch in China and the realization of its oneness 
with the church throughout the world end to provide an ¢ jC 
tunity for united prayer and corporate thought toward this end. 

2. To help make the central position of the church in 
the Christian movement more generally recognized and accepted; 
to watch and study the development of the church in self-support, 
self-government, and self-propagation; to suggest methods and a 
course of action whereby the desired end may be more speedily and 
completely gained; to encourage every healthy movement of the 
church that leads to full autonomy; and to seek and work for the 
adaptation of the church to its environment ami for its naturali- 
zation in China at as early a date as practicable. 

3. To consider the needs of China on a nation wide 


basis and plan for the evangelization and uplift of the whole 
world. 


(1) Secretaries, The National Christian Council of China. Inter- 
national Review of Missions. Jamary 1924. 


Se 


& GAO 4, To help promote ‘such mutual acquaintance: between © «( 
the gpg both Chinese and missionary, from all over China 
and from all’ denominations as will create an atmosphere of re- | 
spect and confidence and make cooperative work of all kinds and 
union where possible, seem natural, feasible snd desirable. 7 


rove ‘§. To esesist in developing a leadership in both 
churches and missions, experienced in dealing with nation wide 
problems ané& with both a. ndtional and an international viewpoint. 


6. To provide a2 platform tipon which «representatives | 
of churches, missions, departmental organizations and other 
Christian’ agencies may’ @isdiss and plan for the correlation of 
the Aottyi bios Lid june Rdg ns send toxpee igi ogee Shot» 


7. Zo arrange ‘oe ‘special season of prayer, praenixe 
forward evangélivtic movements; plan for covtventions and general- 
ly . foster . the het le life an the SAE ODS Ha. : 


To provide a bureau, of information ‘and. to ‘conduct 
alit'pueli tweens ‘Ye sults df surveys for the euldanee of the 
chur che 8 , uien*9ut, on RiSaIOR., poarshe 
9 To ovide an agency in Pi: sag poner is saatineekay 
nétional- organizations &§ the China Christian Educational Asso- 
ciation. and the | ge padiges etter a may be sqnndi nated. 


10. ml represent the. pinto Eo forces of pe wd in hate | 


relation with: ‘the “nationel “christian! organizations of other». : 
counsriess wih 
11. fo serve as means by which the Christian for ces 
in China may express” themselves: a hing 4 when” ee 60 desire: 
upon ad ‘moral’ err angen eS) er Gy 
aieh yey m6 ‘Madastanenehowint bar work as: may: ve gommitted | 
to” it ey "tne oational neopaay Sé era Cy 
“ Lata onggy> To: rrovide for: tne ‘ealling « ‘of. the! next: ‘national. 
‘Suen trans? oni “? . Bag} 
ae a ye ff in, an & ’ wee 


min eet . AG’ Couned1- is elected i by the. “National. christian Cone: ne 


id Be, 
ey 2 Peas “* Ws v #o Ae on 
go “eae wa oe ny Chey © 4 “¥ Sb ss py: ee (ob OF a 


ference," it holds en” enna meeting, gets: its expense budget trom 


the clmzehes and indivi dua) givers of Chine and abrosds At the. 


eatigtaotery ag Le 


1922 conference the so dy the deaienen of mest. of. its com-= ie 


mittees, - » two! owe ef four. a ake ats reo gperastye ph ade 
Foi mi pall sulky y EOu: 3 ME L2G Se rae 


ig 5 Pur Ut ~ 
page OF4. 


a majority of the delegates were Chinese. This indicates that 
the Chinese are assuming an increasing share of the responsibility 
for the diréction of the church. The Council is young and will 
prove its usefulness as the years go bys 

b. The Council at Work. 

May 30, 1925, a striking Chinese workman was shot 
by a Japanese mill owner in Shanghai. This event added highly 
inflamable material to the smouldering fires of anti-foreign 
feeling in China. Because the church is still so largely spon- 
sored and dominated by Churches of western nations which have 
unequal treaties with China, Christianity received its full 
share of opposition. The National Christian Council took prompt 
action in speaking a Christian message outlining the Christian 
position in the light of the event of May 30. A section of their 
message dealing with the transfer of mission authority is perti- 
nent here (1). 

In the last place, should we not seriously consider 
what the state of organized Christianity in China is today? 
There are more than one hundred separate Christian organizations 
which are by no méans all working harmoniously together. We see 
traces of misunderstanding, jealousy, strife, and ill feeling 
among them. May we pause for a moment also to consider the re- 
lationship existing between the churches and missions. Are they 
happy? Do we see clearly how the transfer of the work - - if 
such transfer is possible or desirable - - from the missions 
to the churches is to be made? Have not the missions, as a whole, 
carried too much ecclesiastical baggage over from the West? Do 
our troubles arise - - if we are troubled at all - ~ from real 
Christianity itself or from this excessive baggage? In short, 


is the organization of Christianity as we find it in China today 
satisfactory and satisfying? Or, in view of the situation here, 


(1) National Christian Council, "Message Adopted by the Executive 
Committee, July 16, 1925. Chinese Recorder, August 1925, 
page 524. 


do we feel the need of certain changes in it which may be more 
peng en. to" the’ 2 misty signe people’ in’ China?’ If so,“ what changes? 
_is it not hich time for us quickly, sincerely, humbly, before God 
~to- find out Gracaseas: chdageisaytdn ieee tha’ Ohi nabs bob SER MRA 
, With diligence press forward and onward toward our ultimate goal? 
“We must preserve ana utilize’ the best of our Christian inheritance, 
and, while faithful fe od's World, be courageous to, discard those 
“extraneous things which are of no ‘real value today! Certainly, 

we should retain the best ete ta the Christianity from 
‘the West) and agaih we’ should hesitate to incorporate into the” 
dife of the Chrigtian Church in Ching the mest helpful and. inepir- 
“ing eleménts of Chiness* civilization: Such’ a commingling of the 
best of different civilizations not only will not obscure the 
“face of otf Father in heaven but will surely reveal His very °~ 
nature to us in clearer and more forceful ways. ‘The churches and 
“missiots should at thé éarliest $oasible moment’ make’sa most eriti- 
Gal but constructive study of o eitedabeatthr tke eee 
“in Chine today and “introduee those ¢hanses which will make the 
Christian way gf 23h 8 Bees effective, helpful and better in accord 
with the°-ideals and practices of Chinese Llifes™ —” “O° 

eces OS Phe Counehl is taking action’ to strengthén thé work of 
“$he Chinesé church on all linés where interchurch work can be dor 


without disagréement)” The 1925° China Mission Year Book cives 
peports of its several Lines of Kétivity.s’® ~S mem, Fhe Tom 

OF Soh The°CounchL 18 seeking to strengthen the’ spiritual” life 
“through tétreats for°e¢onference.”’ “It is tackline the difficult 
problem of Christian industrial and social relationa.” Another 
‘ssotion of the Counéil’fis embarking on the war against” opium. 
StL LL AnothéF group is wirkifie’ to ftiprove home and family life 
2 thése movements should strengthen the church and 
hasten théday"6f° its Gdmpléte autondmys 8 19% 8 The 


1 re ee gh aay a ‘en £% 7 wi ih sh Lan i a ee ‘oor A, ao) ae LP E sy on Sy ui bts ei al oe. 
thao ateen see 4 | OR. WOR SBE ORE RS... Be. OO ee). BABAR OFS 1OF - Bee 


voneregationueal Vaion of Shane], Saswtung: and Chibi’. (1) 
The exguple of the American Board is sited firat 
(1) Hodgkin, Henry 7., "The National Christian Council," China 
h panntins Tgar Books, 19454 pace SP the 


» % 5 a] rol 4 
to ee 3 . ed Soa be Re Tats CS gy ew Af oe 
ad) DS Ws , ae ies a ou cB gk Mh Luk, Mi CR OG hed Sab, 
4 ‘ 
sy > d, <p (f oe senna Yt BEE on ut ¢ wnmeww Ttasndwse4 % om 
ined 7b i @ international Missienaz Y VOUNOLL« 


pags § » * 


TE CEL YP WERE MRI) renee MRT Ae Ue eT iy OMe ce ne oe a) Sone ee te one Wes) 


V. EXPERIMENTS IN THE TRANSFER OF MISSIONARY ADMINISTRATION 


The Werle "experiments" portrays well the meaning in- 
tended, The process of transferring the administrative responsi- 
bility from the Boards and Missions to the chinese church has not 
advanced in any denomination to a point which is) completely be- 
yond the stage of experiment. in this an dale we propose to re= 
port steps taken in several missions to place the responsibility 
on the Chinese church. A full statement of the situation in each 
of the missions is impossible. Any attempt to compare one situ- 
ation with others encounters the wide diversity in the age of 
the missions, of the policy and practice, and of the varyinn 
stages of development in different missions and sections of the 
country. The ase of the mission alone does not indicate the 
progress registered, but also the aim anc conception held by 
the missionaries, the progressiveness of the Chinese, the form 
of organization of the aisaion and the type of church covernment 
are all causes of preseht conditions. 

Seven examples of the development in the change of 
missionary administration are given as samples of the present 
or future development in all missions. 

1. The American Board. 

The formation by the North Chine Missions of the 
American Board of Commissioners are Foreign Missions of the 
Congregational Union of Shansi, Shantung and Chihli (1). 

The example of the American Board is cited first 
(1) Lobemstine, EB. C., "The Relation of the Church and Mission 


in China." International Missionary Council. 1923, 
page 5-9. 


Pe Sp ch ne = nt ee 


because it represents one of the most thorough going experiments 
of which we have record. "The union of the’ missions: in: the se 
three provinces was created in’ 1914 by recommendation from the. 9 — 
fLELE Yo ‘phe seaman’ Tt is’ # joint’ Chinese and foreign organi~ © 
cation. Te Wicludes Station wud District Associations, each. _ 
gomposed Of CHinese” And’ foreign menbers with the “Chinese largely 
in the nafority.’ Mach Btetiow through the @istrict association 
ele Sets Welecs ‘tés wid constitute the North China Council, com- 
posed of Chiriése ‘kha “foreien ‘members in emial numbers 900015» 
ae at ‘quéstfors ‘@treetine the Wort lof both mission land 
Shurch “are turtied “évér to the Covmet1 and the station and 


. 


district asdoctatidns withthe ‘éxcéption of matters veoncerning 
SPadiondies* salaries, furloughs, care of Board's property, 
language study, School foP missLénaries’ children ‘and othero. 
citt@hS manifestly relating only to the missionary body. 
comvern, THO StGttOn- associations are'to prepare annually: the 


Wehbe wee a. MAeBiones ee oye exh 


staid pstinates, | to" "Locate “workers ‘belonging! ‘an ‘the: assoei~ pag 
BY at Svekion Assediation shell, « 
at ior note PeeP: riot’ 


Apeoeiation « must” epprove: the: transfer: of i 


eo Oy the Distris giatia 


Workers” fro C8 nel Sohbebatton to isae ee rt tamamiave the: reap oy Hy 
of, the sta 


Lake 


ation and” § SubWit them to' the’ District Association for 
eh no MOMIerseiy Being «lLedted eagh ve 
se sremenseeigEs the, Counsil, to initiate action Looking to- 


PRPs and to report such action to the 


z OBGH OY YORE of ‘Tae OQowwedls - Te mb. 


igaay Agdootats we © on for ® : | 


& mabye yr cs 2 bash he & SE ia rm 4d nay % 


tisk’ #6 GHdouraging all forms of Sevtetian ausivity. 


a 
Fh a 


oval’, “and ‘toe provide. the necessary 


ry * 
a es ay ae we py iF as, Ye ye Ce a 
samo OF MOOT i nas «- The G@umtil shall hold one meeting 
(i): . 
fs “yee es % a im Ae OG vere a lil 1 aps 
) Lovemiotine, Bs &., “The Re Lats om of the Churedh sand om hoy 


in OF i} a if 3 Lees We y St ‘¢ Ba 


Y 


Nea 
e # 


The District Association considers the estimates 
presented by the Station Associations, determines the location of 
workers satesataered from one station to another, ascertains the 
financial needs of the District and reports same to ‘the Council 
for approval and transmission to the American Board and passes 
upon the recommendations of the Station Associations regarding 
the licensing and ordaining of preachers. 

A Station Association dissatisfied with the decision 
of a District Association may by a two-thirds vote, appeal 
directly to the North China Council. 

Sections of the constitution of pertinent value are 
as. follows (1): 

"The membership and functions of the North China Goun- 
cil are: 


Miembership ~ The Council shall consist of sixteen 
members, two - one Chinese and one missionary - from each station. 
The two representatives from each station shall be chosen in al- 
ternate years. Each year the Station Association shall, at the 
annual meeting of District Association, nominate two persons, 
and choice shall be made by the Distriet Association. Re-election 
may take place, if desired: 


Term of Service - The term of service shall be two 
years, one-half of the membership being elected each year. 


Officers - The Officers of the Council shall consist 
of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Chinese Secretary and English 
Secretary, who shall be chosen by vote of the Council. In ad- 
dition to the sixteen elected members, the Council may co-opt 
not more than three other members, but these shall not be en- 
titled to vote. Be ‘ aia 


Time of Meetings - The Council shall hold one meeting 


(1), Lobenstine, EZ. C., "The Relation of the Church ana Mission 
in China.” 1922, page 5-9, | 


Board writes (1) 5. 


a ae : ied by. id 


oe te re. reyre ot ae 
tr Se fs Hee ‘of bib det whi won bhe niwa sien pede MM we De naw node 
7 ci : " 4, & fi fee 42) 4 of - oo hi cited a aon og Me ys “a4 hy 


beatae *. 


req ue ae ae 


eae ares, 


an ‘ae Sede 
A on ant 2 we ah ak 


fend i 


Por ee ae estimates 


Peter the atte: 
cry mabbers, Ti 


sipatona. "Pungtions einay Hi 


inetituUti ons. 


Amendments - This eee of the Constit Sion. may, be 
amended Uys two-thirds, Es f the Oe oes its, Watiy Bew ore 
% awe Ff en yl vote eee wefainrs ine 

Renet “f tye $- at He she us th BN ytd % 
erent ei ad pa A. Bight stato, nw gained P: UE ether cM 0 ia ms 


ated ia vores oe District: Ag AEH biiny were” a io 
in A915: aor tue ctr : svete of thie” Nox th ‘Cina gaits” wate 


COrt STanGe, CLVaper m OL om. Ae: Pad 
held in the sam UNG YOAL» me. Station pnd. District ce feeerueen 


i tae 
bs omer na sar of es teurtte * ‘that stptonedt “et 
asset eeolyenere ox Yasitaattoi Ye "the chinese ts Wie 


eT f9 art yous 


vero they te noi ont 2 Whe’ chk SPbEen ite ue appoint 
P ‘Or 4 tie rf 3, 

fave \eel oat pr Rae i Fete ME ring whem to the! sient etter v 

lough, does so upon the suggestion of the Council. 


ee U0 DER Spl EMRE Strong, ‘Sderetary. 
. by ey Gaver Th OL We 


foruul TLOG 


Oi 


Board writes (1) : 


"As it stands now, the Council presents directly to the 
American Board through its Prudential Committee its requests for 
action. These requests cover not only all matters connected with 
the lines of work which the mission began and which are now under 
the direction of this joint body, but also matters connected with 
many of the personal affairs of the missionaries, such as their 
furloughs, their location, requests for their return to the field 
and requests for missionary recruits. The item of missionary 
salaries is, I believe, still left entirely in the hands of the 
mission, which maintains its organization end performs its limited 
functions. 


Our Foochow Mission has not gone quite so far as this 
in the matter of devolution. The mission maintains its separate 
organization and holds within its purview all distinctly mission- 
ary matters, including, I believe, the location and work of the 
missionaries. The Chinese leadership is developed through the . 
ecclesiastical organizations, both local and general, the general 
body being made up practically entirely of Chinese, save as some 
missionaries are members of it. This organization administers 
all lines of work, including the care and development of the 
churches, local and district evangelism, the maintenance and con- 
duet of schools, etc. Moreover it elects from its membership 
representatives on the Board of Control of the higher educational 
institutions. 


The shaown Mission, which was quite recently set off 
from our Foochow Mission, is now conducting its affairs indepen- 
dently of the latter. The mission organization there is quite 
as separate from Chinese participation as in Foochow. Responsi- 
bility and leadership among the Chinese Christians naturally 
have not been developed yet quite so far in this newer field, but 
more and more Chinese pastors and teachers are being draw into 
conference, cooperation, plan and execution. 


The South China Mission is in process of dissolution 
and readjustments are being made as to its work. The churches 
and Christian leaders developed there are being drawn into the 
service of the cooperative organizations - evangelistic, edu- 
cational, etc., - in the hope that increasing responsibility 
and influence will come to them in this way. 


In general I should say that in North China, where we 
have the most developed form of the new relationship, we are still 


(1) Lobenstine, E. G., “The Relation of the Church and Mission in 
China." (A letter dated prior to July 1923) 1923, page 7. 


61 


aR 


62 


’ ‘ 4 eo. ‘ io he 
: " a ee " tere & * . 4 pe Tr ae be eT on 
t 5 aie e aegis fy 3 ae Lath if 4 va i ie ve. © a aed a 


Hy the experimental stagé, not having lived and worked under the 
nb abvangenont Lond" tnsteh to speak ge a yet the feeling 
8 clear and growing the » bee partnership with the Chinese indi- 
_ gated by the Se leartacten ee the Counoil 1g working.well.ani that 
Ort e 16 -8.btetigg Seed es saps of responsibility and cor- 
“responding devotion, and in the growth of the idea that the 
Christian m aren belongs to the BY hh peck f the land and must 
_ Rot be counted ag resting financially or in any other way upon 


he Ea 


aA ws Jah F* ‘we yg v f 


r: 
a” 


4 


We ide 


"* Rev. Lucius Porter, a member of the North China Mission 


| ahph.tth4 ee ee 
"It ts the conviction of all our missionaries, and... 


also. Our plan seems to, make. possible a handing over of, re- 
sponsibility to the Chinese as fast as they can take it, so that 
the Sead in PAG eee ih OOM LebALy: ehimbanceL « The 
on ie present time, and it would 
not be necessary. to. make any change inthe organization in order 


“to enable the Chinese to continue the work. 


one SS De Sdhies ‘L. Barton, Secretary of the American Board 
writing in regard to the joint administration says. (2).:. 


“Honey tna oR MED pote, thet the Kung. Ta. Hn (the. name. of the. 
“North China Council) is made up of an equal number of American 
missionaries and Chinese and this body has essentially the con- 
trol of all of the American Boaré Mission work in North China. 
This ineluges the location and work. of missionaries and the 
“Gispensing of the appropriations made by the American Board for 
abhe general work of the fields... i. Sianting & sil 


_.. ».,., fhe organization has been in operation now for twelve 
“years and has worked satisfactorily, fully as well as was ex- 
pected at the beginning. ...  GbeEGeed @eY Chinese am 


me 2 Yo 
“tPA, 7 es 


Ecclesiastical matters, church government, financial 


ki 
¥, Pie Le Ts ie Lae ak , - Ss 


(1) Lobenstine,’E. C2, ‘the Relation of the Church’ and Mission 
in China." (A letter dated prior to July 1923) 1923, 
page 8. 


support, formulation of budgets, expenditure of budgets, employ- 
ment of Chinese workers and the direction of the missionaries is 
in the hands of the Kung Li Hui. 

There has been no special transfer of American Board 
property to the Chinese and we have no proposition from the | 
Kung Li Hui that this should be done. 

Our plan has put responsibility upon the Chinese which 
they have faithfully assumed and has led to their development 
in ability, capacity, esprit de corps, devotion and readiness to 
gacrifice. 
2. The Church of the Brethren. 

China Mission work in the Church of the Brethren pre~- 
sents an example of what is being done by a relatively young 
mission. This work was started in the Shansi Province in 1908. 
Today there are four mission stations where American workers are 
located. The total Chinese membership is something over eight 
hundred, The missionaries sensing the growing movement toward 
devolution of administration throughout all China, proposed in. 
1923 a new plan of organization even though the pressure from 
the Chinese was not heavy. 

The constitution under which the church has been 
governed since 1923 embraces the following salient points (1). 
The governing body of the church ineluding all Chinese and 
foreign Christians in all the stations is known as the Nien I 
Hui. It consists of two committees, the Standing Committee and 
the Delegate Body. | 

The Standing Committee is composed of Chinese and 


(1) Church of the Brethren, Chinese Church Constitution found 
in files of the General Mission Board, Elgin, Ill. 


63 


foreign members of the following ‘clesses, ministers, princtpals 
end assistants in the evengelisti¢; educational, nurses training 
‘and Bible School department y* LOVAYy at lavrien, ret lienewe’ ta 
“SGLOMS The inetbership of the elegate body comprises one 
delegate for every fifteen members appointed by the churches. 

_ ‘Baehvof the four main’ steti ons is mow’ as Chih Mut. 
The official’ body of the Chih Hui is known as the Hsieh T1 Hui. 
Its nembership is’ composed of one Chinese and’ one obah gial from 


ne oe 
; wi Bi s 


each’ of thevdepartment’s of work. 89%. (9 She Suthooey 


ore wnee Between the®Lloeal na thé’ general churéh oreanibations” 


is the executive committee of the Nien I Wnil” Pwo mehbérs from: 
6ach Chih Hui, but appointed’ bye tne? Nien I Mui constitute the 


at 


ExcouviveCGamesteey “ve the tro comrentiony, the Crineee and 

0e © \so Pinaneial estimates for the yéarly tuarets are fi pst 

formulated*and"Gonsidéred by the Hsieh LE° Hui And “Abe then’ mene 

to the Nien I’ Hu “which ° dhcp then ih secs gr tain fh eipiines 4 hi 

the ‘Board in AméPigasoetion was Coferred, In 1924 ts 
*.00 “Fron thé férégoing description it will be seen that 

the new organization pléees Chinesé “and missionaries’ side by 

side with ‘equal “representation. “Because ‘of the “youth Sf the” 


church thé ¢lose association of the missfénaries “and the chinese” 


seems ‘very desirable) ‘The latest “advices from the chairman of 
the Field ‘Committee ‘of ‘the missfon indicated that the plan of °” 
or mmatnet en had not been a | Gisappointment (1)... 


PPS WE. OS i he NG WLY 
ater d pager 2S, hl 
11) Official letter from Ne A. Seese, Secretary of the China 
Field Committee of the Church of the Brethren to the 
General Mission Board. February 18, 1926, 


64 


eee eT RU Aa pryae verse hate eam m/e er a) on bad aM let ia Maes” lie | aa 


~ a Wale Bl 


i * A pe ete 
eee idiibinbu data UU eI ll aS 


65 


The missionaries still retain their own organization 
which does not seek the official counsel of the Chinese in 
matters relating to such as missionary galeries, residences and 
missionary furloughs. , 

3. The China Christian Mission (1) | 

' The work in China projected by the United Chyriwttax 
Missionary Society (Disciples) was reorganized and in January 
1925, a new constitution was adopted which gives the Chinese a 
share in administrative functions equal to the authority of the 
foreigners. The first steps toward this reorganization were taken 
in 1921. An attempt to put a new constitution in effect in 1922 
failed. In 1923 the only feature which it was found practical 
to inaugurate was tc have the two conventions, the Chinese and 
the Mission, meet simultaneously instead of on separate dates 
and to have certain sessions jointly. These conventions dis- 
cussed the new constitution but the changes were so far reaching 
that the final ratification was deferred. In 1924 the new consti- 
tution was virtually approved. | 

While the government of the United Christian Church 
is more congregational than in the Church of the FEevhren, yet 
there is a striking similarity in the oh age hh rie of the Chinese 
churches projected by these two denominations. 


XE 


The chief authoritative bodies in the new organization 


(1) Report of the Newly Formed China Christian Mission.’ April 
1925, pages 13, 21. 


" } oe ; x 
4 coed 7 ‘ Yt a! a ‘ 4 Bi ts 3 
Pye epee Cc Oe Ee ee Pe ere, OCR) Mee en 


66 


vot Pie ‘Chita ‘Chr’ stian ban spuip the heer vip ‘the 6 prec f 
‘tHe “Aiur atrdt ive Wnaftted ‘and Vie Station. “ 
forwletign, o> pion difon "a ? ae y Wont bog - regularly 
elected de1dvates’ ‘from tHe ohure es , one delegate Te ean ‘titteen 
kecomdedall sie fined ddtiventi'n nas as its officers a pr pre esident,, tase 


§ Whe a oe apa a te Ba, ee > eae me 34 OTL « 

prestabrt’ tha two béebétar ‘tes, Mone of whom” pig be Ohihess and 
A Pogo y er OL the sale, purchase om 

tic foreiene the détvention is hotmail ty educational and 

ff the United Garisti aoa 


le sill a ection of the ,% 
Qevotional 4 if tharacter. Wiechacs reports and makes recom- 
we OG re a) Goma. i eee % Ye~ 


£4 
mendations to° the’ councd s ‘tne acts upon matters referred to it 
UPA Hi Sows Re cretes % tha mieeionsary secretary 
by ‘the’ Couneit and by tt e Admini strative Committee. | 
Signe) or, i ¢ organuication and 
_— ihe cot ‘anet L Baraat of one. hlnees and one nissionary 
efits +o rreapondenge with the, Und Chrig tian 


trom 6ach of thé six stations. These delegates are i vy ane 
 « ae your’ ry as ba 
noaiiy by the Convention from the members of the churches. Be- 


ae’ +: ah es t{ least one nenired uemcers,. Live 
sides these tw dolég ates 1 from each church two other delegates 
aes. 2 ogek yourly reecipts ant ens. other intersat 
HPs eLectsa® av rates. eee nde 

1% B'S, i werk. ational or mecicai beTore 
Soothes Ome é oanot? passes Efe.tt.°¢ estimates, acts upon all 


#3 Aes wore 


t& ptioat ve. 4% 3B 3 Ch eet ed ae &, Sh SEALS OR Reteaviieshed, 2ta 

matters rer erted £3 Fe “By Che ai sitive” Gomi t tee and the 
(i f fs Raw “LT ad, 
piibenehetecaabedath é Agree ig he hot gh and make @ 


Db te an 
* 2p 


+h y Lie @ in : gal x réeuc} k # ae A d. 
Heeommbend ats Shs tothe Convention. It makes recomendations 
om aeoh Chimese ar rad 


régevadec the calling iz of ie lc, and of resignations 
eyed 4 ve t > Pay is ti nm Les al wo ek AG 
dnd “Mitougns “of Vicace.* 


Orel ne Clear administrative Committee consists of two Beers 


eke he es 
ihe ee Oa foreign Uepartuens 1 39 


tii one “Citnese and one ‘Rigsionary | and in addi tion ‘two Chinese 


og og Sere or aye rea \ AS 2AS OT 7 
att ‘io ‘Btsdtcnaries > ne” ‘hd tnis fi OR ek Maud tien i is “‘insthd 
& wh By 4. h G b tg ARE ab oes Belay 
at Ue? antnal meetine of the. Council. “ Th hamény with the 


YY ; 


iad 8 mi gh he Bay baat the po int fade 2Oue Gm Or VALA 


imagen be een ae oe me i a A. — i. 5) rhe ae 
ih Re Ria A i A aes are ae 
+e : OF r . J 7 


67 


policies determined by the Council, the Administrative Committee 
has direction over the work of organization including the 
formulation of policies, the control of funds, the location and 
transfer of missionaries and Chinese workers, the construction of 
buildings, the employment and discontinuance of workers and all 
matters relating to salaries, promotions, and station locations. 
It has the direction and supervision of the sale, purchase and 
custody of property under the direction of the United Christian 
Missionary Society. Its action is final when the committee re- 
mains unanimous. Of the two secretaries the missionary secretary 
signs orders for the payment of funds of this organization and 
carries on the official correspondence with the United Christian 
Missionary Society. 

fhe Station must have at least one hundred members, five 
hundred dollars in local yearly receipts and one other interest 
besides evangelistic work, such as educational or medical before 
it attains its recognized status as a station. Established sta- 
tions are not to be subdivided without leaving five hundred 
members and one thousand dollars in lical receipts in the old 
organization. Stations are to be managed so each Chinese and 
missionary has ample opportunity to promote the local work ac- 
cording to his ability. , . 

Dr. Corey, Secretary of the Foreign Department of the 
United Christian Missionary Society, writing concerning the 
assumption of responsibility by the Chinese says: 

"I might say that the point has come in our China 


work where the Chinege practically determine whether missionaries 

are. to stay in the: service.or not and we will not sen@ additional 
missionaries to China without the approval and desire of the Chi- 

nese a ere ee pit Bho ea gece Gan ‘Yo eke 


if OR 


iden Phe: Method tety 5 Labispnr: enusel) 
‘The pe ge aoe rn ‘development which has taken piace 


ie crit 
ih tide Ty 


“among, re Methodists: has: bow: the enlarrement of the powers of 
othe. central conferences made at the General Conference of the 
_ Methodist: Episcopal, ‘Ohuseh which met at Des Moines in 1920. 

+My e Penl Hutchinson, manegi ne editor of the Christian 
Gen tung in ‘his little book, "The Next Step: A Study in Methodist 
ee ) oan e as what” took place in 1920: 


86 ates ‘ephe: Metho dist Episcopal Church made esta no 

tial Sona in its treatment of the church outside the United States 
between 1884 and 1920 - thirty-six years! The more notable then 
is the remarkable. enlargement of powers which we now find in. 

» Par: 964: Seon #12," 34, By 6,° 75 8)s° From a body whose prin- 
_eipal- functions were comprised ‘in’ a hazy permission to look after 
- such educational, publishing, and other interests as: the separate 
conferences might delegate to it, we fon, eer f come upon a Bety 
npappahe ieeuer ns in Shiss form © 


ea "a It ts” organized ab bi ‘ge Wier Sirabitonn of the leiden 
Conference. i 1 a 


nk Ee 


wotatse, | " The. rales! of its: “composition « are 48° ‘its. own hands. » 


es get, 3 
hie. 


"S It mst meet at least once in four yearse. 


he, It is-presiaed over by’ a ie or: a eediaent 

elected 1 vy ttselt, was eS ae ie aaa Peer eee 
“e Ent BR oe b Se Y 

‘Be It has” nate that reagee 1s not tie supervision of 
‘the. odisational, industrial, publishing, and other connectional 
interests of. the Chur ch wi thin: ‘the ‘area under its jurisdiction. 
(without reference to ‘any delegation of power ‘by conferences and 
missions as of old), "But never ‘in contravention of the Book of 
Discipline, or:the orders of the General. Conference; and it shall 
have.no. authority to involve the Board of vi i Missions in Pied 


(1) eh ry Phy Pang oti " phephas 3. antl Su United 
Christian Missionary Society to writer, March 4, 1926. 


ate ee ee 


68 


Paar nt ep 
PPL eee 


financial responsibility, nor to hold or control the property of 
the Board without the official permission of the said Board, 


6. It has power, subject to the approval of the bishops, 
to arrange courses of study for all workers, foreign and native, 
ministerial end lay, within its jurisdiction. 


7. In cooperation and collaboration with the Board of 
Foreign Missions and the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, it 
is to direct the missionary work and policy of the indigenous 
church. 


8. It may simplify and adapt the Ritual for use in the 
are under its jurisdiction. 


9. It may extend Article XXIII of the Articles of Re- 
ligion to apply to the governments of the conntries in which its 
work lies. 


10. It has power "to make such adaptations regarding 
membership, special advices, worship, and the locel ministry, 
not contrary to the Discipline, as the peculiar conditions of 
the field soncerned call for." 


ll. It may, "subject to proper agreements with the Board 
of Foreign Missions,” incorporate an Executive Board or Committee 
to carry on such work between sessions as is desired by the Cen- 
tral Conference. 3 


12. It can "Egtablish rules, rites, and ceremonies for 
the solemnization of marriage not contrary to the law of the 
country." 


13. It can make rules and regulations "for the purchase, 
holding, end transferring of property not related to the Board 
of Foreign Missions and the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society." 


14. Voting by Conferences and missions can, upon demand 
of one-third of the Conferences or missions represented, be en~- 
forced in a Central Conference. In such a case a two-thirds 
majority of the Conferences and missions represented is required 
to complete an action. 


15. It may fix the boundaries of the Annual Conferences 
within its jurisdiction, although the General Conference retains 
the right to determine the total number of Annual Conferences 
yn may be organized within the territory of each Central Con- 

erence. 


16. It may be discontinued only by the General Conference. 


70 


17. It must submit its. Journal, for examination by he 


“Cont éx je lone Trek ves he jominatigns wd being 

ee CY Saas e these daya ty the Anrwal Conferan on, B bes ¥ 

© 2S Fey The Ceritral outer nde Atueuvio Mira prod cow, dhe 
et ween pea! ns its execu five voHrd , “ts aithorized “hort tact ene nd ~ - 
esidences of, the missionary dishoy ptor ‘southern Astast seer. lo 

BORS eu bib il Behe aa ce L ERT 3, Y oe 2S oe we i “e Fie it (int eas fae! ee tire ot be Psa 


cre Sore SWgiich a By eth Le LY conouLe Hot pe aietioult tor 
0 BQ dials BAe DRE TeCRL VEG Giregtiy drow our program epatemm 


the church eda “he United States Wé'dée ‘the “charter of 4 new 


Re \ se x as ei Lc , we Boor i ete: pibaenk ete p ina | an. vat if 44 
role foe Chi Lye a8" & Wiole° athl2 Turther,; and piseeh Chinese 
i king 4 ee re" 6 t ds, D3 
ineswide att JAE RES ela 3 kph dh ae edhe oak yg 
ipés rer were e pone tb. epand naral 
seater iissionir ie) ‘ys re se syndy ye get Fa 2 ang oe i= 
tid get estimt 6 cs) We seit! £4 ' “the. Beare ‘tn Amoston. User the! 
ree ete 2 2g RSLS te GEARS $e HAS Gired iit a.” WOR " 


fay caheaht ceGRience plan joint ec pipid tenes Macout fy 
Chinese, eid Pitst oriaries are ‘reaponsibie*t ‘for: ‘Bending RESP esti- 


BY # 3A Terie Wats 


nates to “tne g “Board ‘a ala for ‘agai at We ain ‘tinahotea tiatters_ | 
relating t9, tke Gonréroasess Se eraich inde dk terianta eaeler ke. 
= 8 ‘Cong eiing tHede DEs Rexgh Ward, _sesoorate Seoretary 


pee nets et ene at pf pgs ta ¢ c 7 (3 i ore ex~o iba ‘ - 
on & bet? aj fated “vy the "Board: at preter oti skeéne-to 
: + aoe { tas a eipest ie ldeal Pinanéé Committees. 
: chines eat ‘ y°oRKe Ldeal “Fine nee: oP ht fl 
er: salt ¢| tibued iar coy the ‘Board, ‘Save in’such” 
special arrar Sakae the ° Bo nea; “thosé wandlede 


‘jimi xélusively” of foréign missionaries. . 


ip, te 18 t three yours the Board has so arranged its 
appre iat eset 6 draw bree sharply bétwWeen® finds for’ the 
fox Pokies?" budge ani funds’ for the "operating budgets" 
ae b 1dze aa anise ev ft hee? aside from’ the “salaries 
rehts tot ies. It. even ineludes 
he™ eres pe tar ai missfonaries™ in their looal 
hing pe aui ey erating budget" is Handled “by a mixed 
raed siettrestteatt 48, Tapye! $64 by" “the” gard” of ‘Foreign: r 


> ; rar Spr’ “fe a re eve a Dee 
a abe i, ii “hay " 
bee ugh the nomination of 1 ts memb ex aind'p Uy the local Annva’ 


(1) HAERincoliy’ Padi , "Tne Wekt Steps "1922 ) ‘pea 78): my is the 


7 


ae 


71 


Missions on nominations from China. The nominations are being 
made in most cases these days by the Annual Conference, a body 

80 per cent of whose membership is Chinese. So far as I know, the 
Board of Foreign Missions has never declined to confirm any nomi- 
nations sent from China, for membership on Finance Committees. In 
some of our Finance Committees there are more Chinese than there 
are foreigners. This change has been brought about within the last 
two years, and has resulted directly from our program statement 
meetings, held in Peking during the winter of 1920 


During 1922, we took a new important step which unified 
our program for China as a whole still further, and placed Chinese 
thinking still nearer the center of our work. We organized a 
CUhina-wide Finance Committee. During recent years our Board has 
increased its appropriations for Christian Literature for general 
educational supervision and for other phases of work. Appropri- 
ations for this purpose run over $120,000 Mex. for the year 1923. 
The China-wide Finance Committee has direct charge of the expendi- 
ture of this money. 


In the summer of 1922 this China Finance Committee 
spent eleven days in reviewing estimates (submitted by eight 
local Finance Committees in different parts of China) for the 
program of the Board of Missions and the Church in China for the 
twelve year period, 1922-1934 inclusive. The Committee not only 
reviewed these estimates but modified them in important respects. 
The Committee was composed of one Chinese and one American, 
elected by each of the eight local Finance Committees. The bi- 
shops and certain general officers in China were ex-officio 
members without vote, so that the voting hog in this Committee 
was on a basis of equal representation. is Committee, there- 
fore, had a relation not only to the budget for connectionalisnm, 
but to the statement of the total program of China as a whole. 
The work of this Committee, in consequence, has to do not simply 
with the operating section of the budget in China, but with the 
total budget both for expenses of foreign missionary personnel, 
and other items. 


Practically speaking, there are no matters affecting 
the Church in China which do not come before the Annual Confer- 
ence or the Finance Committees of the Board. The direction of 
institutions such as schools, hospitals and the like, is handled 
by principals or superintendents appointed by the bishop, who 
more and more consults the Chinese constituency; and by the 
Finance Committees, subsidiaries of the Board of Foreign Missions 
though related to the Annual Conference, as previously indicated, 
through the nomination of its membership by the local Annual 
Conference. Many of our so called Methodist institutions in the 


12 


United States have-no.more relationship to the local Annual Con-’ 
ference in the United States than do these Methodist institutions 
in Chine, As indicated above, the only Finance Committee in China 
which is held to a fifty-fifty basis is the new China-wide Finance 
Committee... There is no. rule, governing the. proportion of Chinese 


t 


and foreigners on the nine local Finance Committees." (1) 
5. The Presbyté#ian Church in the Us S. de 0 om | 


oe. “the “Presbyterian Church is at this particular time,” 


making a special study of the. best methods of transferring ad= 
hintstrative responsibility from their China missionaries to the 
Chinese clio. in veply to an inquizy made concerning ‘the proe- 
rége of the’ PYestyterian church, Secretary George . Scott of the 


"You have caught.our Presbyterian Board right in the © 
midst of a transition period in which practically all questions 
relative to devolution of missionary administration are being 
nate aedver se tly,.4% RASp SABA, pened NaaiNe meting of three region- 
al conferences and one General Evaluation Conference to be held 
in China October and November 1926, when a deputation from the’ 
Board of Foreign Missions is to be in China to confer with repre- 
sentatives of our eight China Missions --.- I might say there © 
is a great Gifference in attitude between our older ami larger 
missions and our newer and smaller missions. Also between some 
of our more progressive. stations with, adequately educated and 
competent Chinese and some. of our, more, backward, stations where ~ 
Chinese leadership is still.to be developed. In general, qn the 
might venture to,say that the fundamental attitude of the Pres-, 
pA at lg 2 A tare pe na by aay he at tS ital pale matters, but 
that it has been becoming more progressive as, the desires and.” 
ability of the national Christian become more marked." (2) 


The. foregoing letter. doesnot imply ‘that the Pres-. 9 
byterian church has ignored the subject of transferring wrk 
aiid finile “trom foreign control.to Chinese hants.. Several sib 
sdsticnd Pou hie Boded 2 witial deat with the appointment of 


i i P ~¥ 
a nie ‘| mT ae ue 


(1) etter trom Dr. Ralph Ward, quoted by B.C. Lobenstine 


“an "Phe Relation of Church and Mission in China.” 1923, 
page 14. 

(2) Personal letter from Dr. George T. Scott, Secretary of the 

Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church to 

the writer, March 6, 1926. 


joint committees of Chinese and foreigners to direct evangelistic 
and educational work. | 
"Relation of the Church on the field to mission policy: 


Mission policy in relation to the Church in the mission 
field should be decided by the mission and the board, but the 
counsel and advice of national Christians should be considered, 
due weight being given to the same in formulating these policies. 


Relation of the Church on the field to the control of 
mission funds: 


The right to the control and administration of mission 
funds inheres in the mission, but a mission at its discretion, 
and with the epproval of the board, may make such grants to the 
Church on the field for general or specific purposes as it deems 
advisable, the Church on the field then having the power of con- 
trol over and administration of such funds. 


If deemed advisable, a mission may with the consent of 
the board transfer funds or institutions or other work to the. 
Church on the field or a cooperating committee of the mission and 
the Church on the field which may administer the same. 


Such jointor cooperating committee should be composed 
of certain members selected by the duly constituted mission 
authorities and certain members selected by the duly constituted 
Church authorities. 


Such a plan should be put in operation primarily in 


those fields where there is ¢ither a strong desire or capacity for 


self-government which has outgrown the financial ability of the 

Church, but that it be not adopted with the idea of permanency, 

but as a temporary expedient looking forward to and looking up 

z “yb hake deli and final complete control by the Church on the 
eid. 


Relation between missions and the Church on the field: 


National consciousness should be welcomed and recomized 
by provision for the absolute independence of the Church on the 
field, with complete ecclesiastical authority, and responsibility 
for the administration of its own affairs. 


This, however, need not prevent connection of the 
missionary with the Church courts, nor connection in any advisory 
Capacity, nox the power to serve on committees or to serve the 


73 


74 


Church on the field in any capacity, provided the desire of the 
Church, for such relations ip or service is Stic ‘by the * Church 
oper (f through its own ecclesiastical atthorities, but all such — 
elat amet, gbeu st be looked upon’ oF ‘temporary’ and as falling 
short of the finat objective, which is’ an indigenous Church on a 
‘native basis in which the foreien fmt: arr t Meabadan no longer a 
ee eee bP gg al: ii A A ye 
Beh hE. | ‘the ‘chron ‘on* the! PAEgaROn field abarron it: and: 
zt seston RAGE “the ordained mémbers of the mission’ oth 
connect t emselves Ww ith the: courts: of’ the “Charen on ‘Uhe’ ‘fiel 


eared. for Tdeals of tie chiireh on: the field: vias 


The Church i? the. mission field should aim to bepme 
agert prov ating, ‘se -supporting and self-roverning, and should 
be diligent tis applying the» principles of ‘the Gospel of Christ to 
“the soeial and moral’ “problems of commnity and’ nation; the’ mission, 

‘with wise: Counsel and cordial assistance should encourage and © 

serie te bed chareh in: the: carrying out ‘of’ ‘this purpose.” a8 Bo 


 Watiowan, leadership and etady abroad: bie 
PEOg SA Oey ay board reeomizes the nécessity of +eained” Leaabe- 
ship = ministers and 1 workers,” ‘both méen-and’ women = and that 
-it is the dut “Of” the mission to- start, sustain ‘and foster schools 
“for the train ng of such leaders. In’ ell” forms’ of work’; the 

' Churh” on the field. should be’ encouraged from ‘the first to coopere- 
ate, with, ‘ae view to ultimate: / assumption: of Shh daa ta (i) 


Le os Protestant D iseopal Charen." aM : Stakes or ad 


i Dry sohn’ ison. Wood, “Executive secretary for Foreten 


aie i the ‘Protestant: “wpisebpal: Shureh’ ‘set forth: in a levier 
the: ‘poltey of “the” Bpiscopar” guuren regardine devo lution in 


™ rae a es toe 


‘Ps pty taped edmini strati On. . He Says: si 


“From the Deainning of the vork of our “Church af China 
it has held as its aim, the establishment not only of a native 
Church but of what we might call a National Church - Nationel 
not in the sense that it would be related officially to the 
State, _ but national in the sense that it would be a truly Chinese 
Church, manned and administered by the people of the country. 


ay ‘eau of the Board of Ae a aaa of ‘the Presbyterian 
_, Church, in the U. Se Aw? 


wh es 


75 


With this end in view, much emphasis has been laid from 
the beginning of our work in China upon education and especially 
‘the training of men for the Ministry and for other forms of ser- 
vice and the training of women to render such service in evangel- 
istic, educational and medical work as women so efficiently render. 


Our method of missionary administration is naturally 
plamed around the 5 tng. bo Episcopal leadership and admini- 
stration are practically the only forms we know, or at least, the 
only methods we follow. Practically all matters of administration 
which do not involve departures from well settled policies, are 
cared for by our bishops in the field without reference to the 
home board. 


As this Church in its polity is Apostolic, we would 
uaturelly follow in the mission field of the Twentieth Century, 
the same general methods of development that have been followed 
by the Christian Church from the earliest times. The bishop is 
the head and center of the mission. At first he and the mission- 
aries deal only with individuals to whom they make known the 
Christian message. As this message is accepted by individuals 
and as these individuals are trained in Christian faith and 
practice, they are naturally organized into congregations. As 
the congregations increase, they are naturally organized into 
dioceses. As dioceses are developed, these are naturally welded 
into a National Church. This is the process which has been 
followed in China. It may be said to have culminated in 1912 
vhen the National Church known as the Chung Hua Sheng Kung Hui, 
or the Holy Catholic Church in China, was formed, not by any 
act of the Episcopal Church in the United States or of the Church 
of England, but by the act of a specially called group of repre- 
sentatives of the 11 dioseses existing at that time and previously 
established by the work of missionaries of the Episcopal Church 
in the United States, the Church of England, and the Church of 
England in Canada. This organizing synod was in its membership, 
predominantly Chinese. The name of the Church and the character 
of its polity were determined by the Chinese." (1) 


7° 


questions Answered by Secretaries of Protestant Eolecoml ant 


Southern Baptist Boards. » 
The writer in seeking information as to the policy of 


different boards sent a list of questions to Dr. Wood. of the 


(1) Personal letter from Dr. John Wilson Wood, Executive Secre- 
tary for Foreign work, Department of Missions, Protestant 
Episcopal Church to the writer April 6, 1926. ; 


16 


pedtgatiiut’ pis opal: Ghur ch and. yo Dew: oh ineoaahen Corresponding 


& 3 (S% eG BCE 8 eh. i WORE fi YS 


seeretary’ of the Hinare Ler Board of: ‘the Southems Bap Vist Convent. ion. 


Toe Bhew Coen etee oe 


The bin Le ‘ends wontons from . these "te0 Waacetariea. ‘are as fol- 


lows: : 3, Ghee 2b3 int aver apt se m Mae yy 
any oh Te bi POOR, SLIM OFF Oho hs 
sa aad. What te’ “the? Attituie of your Board. to wera devolution 
+4 eiaahhoy: administration in China? indicate.by any official 


| ager aione made, 6Y by letter stating present positi OMe 


«Protestant Episcopal Church. - Our Board as such, has 
never taken any definite action with regard to the devolution of 
missionary administration to China. It has followed with sympathy 
and approval,” the’ Steps that have been. taken» in China to place 
larger responsibilities uponithe Chinese as the natural method 
of fulfilling’ the’ purpose’ with whichi:the, Church began its mission- 
ary work in ye 
me ! stenk Ed wed G i 

SEL OG, 4 Subnet Baptist Gartetehte x - Dhe. general. Polioy of 
tits ‘Board. ‘on ‘ow Mission*fields is that which obtains at BARR 
namely, to @ndourage churches to become self-supporting « 
rapidly and as early as they can. Churches on the higdion fields, 
like Baptist churches “in the South, are entirely independent. is 
There "3 Sots toy to ‘boards; missions, conventions etce,, are all 
toréether voluntary. ‘We recognize the autonomy. of the..Board. 
Neither can coerce the other. We do not have, as you are aware, 
ae ecclesiasticel ia cage oa Comdig with imeDe i ete. gay authority. 

4 atic ' By What 'st DS Mae your Board taken leading toward, 
bévathies 6a 6f ainint stvation? Aw eter sot Chthsqe we | 


a. In ecclesiastical matter. 
_. . Bs In’ éhureh governments « - e Ody tome « 
to, “ally Wiaiy in’ finanoieL nn stro nv ea a 
ining abopbovebtant: ss ct Church: - Phe ‘Melee Catholic ‘Church 

oh eWina'* having’ emerged from the missions established by the 
various branches of the Anglican Communion as indicated above, 
takes control of all ecelesiastical matters concerning its own 
ite. Tt is’ an’ prgeay fanetrmnge th erasge at oie eoorne wile ainda | 
eee qurers:. Roney: . 

‘ee eee: eitimrainktons petty are ' sui tostoeeeind: slect 
thei own ‘Vestries, generally containing both men and women. 
"iat annual Diovesan: aor mega ae ui ald. wits AE As poh 


Chinese and foreign and such lay representatives as may be se- 
lected by the congregations. These lay delegates are with rare 
exceptions, Chinese. Each Diocese elects its representatives, 
both clerical and lay, to the General Synod. The General Synod 
is the supreme governing body. 


Southern Baptist Convention - The Board has not taken 
any special steps since our policy has not made it necessary. 
Finéncial support is extended on the recommendation of missions 
and missionaries composing, which are in fraternal conference 
with native churches and leaders. | 


5S. To what extent do the Chinese participate in the 
direction of: : 


a. Formulation of the budget for mission expenses 
b. Its expenditures 
ce The employment of Chinese workers? 


Protestant Episcopal Church - In most instances, the 
bishops, in preparing their estimates of appropriations needed 
for each fiscal year, consuit with some of the leading Chinese 
clergy. There is no requirement that they should do so. 


Av the present time, money is disbursed in China first, 
through a general treasurer then through diocesan treasurers and 
finally through station treasurers who are usually American, 


The appointment or employment of all workers is in the 
hands of the bishop. In the case of Americans, he acts in consul- 
tation with the Board of Missions. In the employment of Chinese, 
he acts in consultation with American and Chinese members of the 
staff. 


Southern Baptist Convention - The Chinese have entire 
control of funds which they contribute, and money which we give 
to their churches is given to independent Baptist bodies, but 
for work about which there has been agreement between these church- 
es and the mission. 


The budget for the mission expenses comes to us through 
the mission secretary, and our expenditures are made through the 
mission treasurer. Moneys are thus in the hands of those who are 
responsible to the Board until they reach the objects for which 
they are appropriated. : 


Chinese workers are employed by the mission and not 
by the Board. Usually individual missionaries make request of 


Mids WS te he Se Be 34 ee hehe Be aR ot ee 
Wy PA ee tay ” We Cm t ee: Ped % % at ae 
bE a, “ , OP OS ee oe 


r Sete Loe! Bowe: Bs wes i ial ia is ela vy ' ‘4 re si Ss z 
“théhmiasion that Chinese workers in’ théir particular ffelasibe » 
included in the budget. ‘The estimates for the salaries of these 
Chinese workers,are,.sent. to us and LS pede opal are made by 
items, but the Board does not attempt to employ directly the 
Chinese, nor, do,we, eppoint, natives who may be in this country and 
are returned to their home countries for religious wrk. 


i ow 2 
@ sah 


“a. In Chinese churches thet are expected to become 
autonomous what, is your policy. regarding the ownership of build- 
dings. ere teddy .SP TALE MOMEV nares Sraelie GOES 


a When? oe 


oa li Chirch property ig vested in 
‘the Domestic am, Foreign Miasionary Society. Im cases where it 
is not so vested, the Eni de Gotiere gat ion hes given, or other- 
wise secured atvands of apt building, No formal policy with re- 
-ogard to the ranster of titles has ag yet been considered. © © 
CO OF Peli es Rese Wiis FF. shcote weate ally af as me " p thay : i oR EGR sh vine: 
natarslle wee Southern Baptist Convention = We have ‘had little -ex- 
«perience. in. trausferring church buildings to native churches. 
oiWe hada case last-year of a church in Japan wishing to buy”™a 
twhouse which we had built, and we sold it to them on réasonable 
terms. -We bave, however, nothing which could be’ Galled a’ final 
Mee icy. We allow the churches to use the buildings which wo 
‘chave-evected without purchas them unless they “wish to do so, 


“rare exceptions, the title to alt th 


& 


»o@md then we sell them at a reduced price and the money is used 
for other buildings or purposes on the fields. The titles to 
church buidldings.and otner propertics are made in such @ way 
that the Board can be certain that they are uséd’ for the pur- 

‘poses: for, which, they, are purchased, but not for financial ad~ 
van tage to this Boards See ee eee Lee Orval a pare Ps 

thrtuphent. Tetvies . It wee that Mite ae Pee 

5. Do the Chinese have any voice’ im the retention of 

‘\presentomissionaries or, the calling of new foreign workers to 
mission service? ~~ ee er ee NE RN Nee One 

Pew het Bae het fer oe aid eee Rote One 

Protestant Episcopal Church’~'The Chinese have no 
voice inthe wetention of present missionaries or the calling 
of new Missionaries so far es the Board “of Migsions is concerned. 

. The, bishops Sama ee field undoubtedly consult some of their Chi- 
nese advisors, but as bishops, take the ‘responsibility of making 

'» thejdeeision after having received counsel. 


tiani¢ty A¢fterp_S@ushern rt ety Convention - No, The Chinese have 
never asked to be allowed to pass on missionfaties to be ‘sent or 
retained on the field. This is a matter which belongs to the 

Board under.a well.recognized autonomy. 


van Lhe. ae : 
s & i Sud, Ret ae 4 i FRE * 


7 4 5 
P BIR. x } eek Ss 7 4 
% ee aie ds We N a L 
7 %4 OR She Som 
ald 5 hae 
ae Al * & 


“at 


78 


- At the present time, with 


+ rrp 


6. Are the Chinese in any way represented in the (other 
than that included in Nos. 3 and 5) acts of your Board relative — 
to China? | “vad | 


Protestant Episcopal Church - No» 
Southern Baptist Convention - Mo. 
Dr. Love says further: | 

"TI may add as a supplement to 3-a that Chinese Boards 
as well as churches and individuals confer freely : 3 
mission and have agreements as to amounts by which this Board 
supplements their gifts and the appropriation of our supplement 
to their gifts. We then send money to the mission and the 
mission turns it over to the Board. 

: In a field like our South China field, where there is 
considerable development both in numerical strength and intelli- 
gence of religious and denominational affeirs, the natives have ~ 
naturally assumed a large part of their own work, although the 
missionaries are in close fraternal conference and cooperation 


with them. For instance, in ow Pooi Ching at Canton, we con- 
tribute the services of two missionaries, and the Chinese contri- 


bute the remainder of the éxpense, which ineludes the care 978 
student body The missionaries work with is known as 
wo-kwanes Association both in the educational and evangelistic 

work.” (1) | 

The status of devolution of missionary administration 
in the seven denominations cited as examples prevails generally 
throurhout China. It seems that Mission Boards are recomnizing 
the ppoblem and are in the midst of efforts to do that which will 
result in the most far reaching good for China. | 3 : 

Complete autonomy will scarcely be attained until full 
self-support is added to the achievements of the Chinese church. 
It will be natural that the Chinese will develop types of Chris- 
tianity different from those in America and Hurope.. Just how 
(1) Personal letter from Dr. J. F. Love, Corresponding Secretary, 


Yoreisem Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention 
to the writer, March 5, 1926. 


generously the American and European Churches will support a. 
‘Chri stianityain China over which they have no control. and. with | 
Which they may differ'is a question, Revere ead ; the Sr ae ge 
e In ‘the seven ‘denominations. cited it. will be lia ‘that 
it is not planned for. ‘the missionary to retire from the field, 
but father that ne share authority with hig Chinese brother. It 
is probeble that the number of Hew itssionipies’to China’ wilt 
“Papidly decrease, “but''2150" there” will be & genérous number of 
missionaries. remain with the Chinese. to. act. in an. Suxiliary rae 
“eapacity for many years’ to come.’ The SHOR desire it in edad 
every case, @specially where the missionary is proficient in the 
John the Baptist art of decreasing while another increases. _ 


8. The Transfer of Adm ni atrati on! in Raveat tonal’ Institutions: 


The | recent. rising. nationalisna, and ‘he. anti - -Christian 
“propaganda” ha 6! f6#¢ed° chi1¥ tah’ gend01e iaieh nave bore a 
‘major’ share: of tne oppoBition to Christianity to! show evidence of 
thet? real! Worth. "x atrling’ oriteiem leveled at Christian sbhoots 
-Pational patriotisn, .t'nas' been onhrgel’ that they are’ under” 
"webb hin” ‘contro1 ‘Ang’ ‘tgndre. Chinese. ‘Yeais. ” On November 16,1925, 
the Ministry of Education issued an official pS aes) tape the 
substance of which is as follows!” ” shins i 

"Regulations Governing the Procedure of Recognition. 

“1. Any institution of whatever crate established by 


- ba Vl a ‘ yy x 
ee ee yy Oe ; CG te ee ol wie ie fe ee RODS SD tr By BE Oh A he i ts; Ting: \ ea yo wi 
he Boa ERED: ‘hie Cpe | FRAP GR CS a 


eee a ate fam, 


funds contributed for foreigners, if it carries on its work ac- 
cording to the reculations soverning various grades of institutions 
as promulgated by the Ministry of Education, will be allowed to 
make application for recognition at the office of the proper edu- 
cational authorities of the Government according to the regulations 
as promulgated by the Ministry of Education concerning the appli- 
cation for recognition on the part of all educational institutions. 


2e Such an institution should prefix to its official 
name the term "szgu Lih" (privately established), 


oe The president or principal of such an institution 
should be a Chinese. If such president or principal has hither- 
to been a foreigner than there must be a Chinese vice-president, 
who shall represent the institution in applying for recognition. 


4. If the institution has a board of managers, more than 
half of the board must be Chinese. 


5. The institution shall not have as its purpose the 
propagation of religion. ) 


6. The curriculum of such an institution should conform 
to the standards set by the Ministry of Education. It shall not 
include religious courses among the required subjects. 


The requirement that schools must change from foreign 
to Chinese management is only hastening the goal toward which 
missionary educational administrators should aim. Many of the 
leading Christian universities although founded by missionaries 
in a day when the Chinese were not appreciative of modern edu- 
cation are now becoming truly Chinese in spirit. As an example 
of this, Yenching University is rapidly increasing the Chinese 
members of its staff. These members are accorded equal rank and 
position with foreign teachers on the basis of their gifts and 
training. In the last few years the administrative offices have 
been open to the Chinese. Three deans out. of four in the Uni- 
versity are native sons of China. The teaching of Chinese culture 
ane given an increasingly large position in the institution 


In the Church of the Brethren Mission three main stations 
conduct both boys and girls schools. N. A. Seese an officer of 
the mission presents pertinent data as to the process of devolution 


(1) Lew T. 7., "Ideals of a Christian Missionary Institution in 
China." Chinese Recorder, December 1925, page 806. 


82 


in educational cag eg age Brief, Me bry A from his commund - 
réaeon to Wink that BY M220 De 7! 


cation will be sufficient tor our purpose: A 


field of eCusatio ot DBrtorre gs et aD ttn ike Ae OBES 

"You will ‘notice from the minutes of tus field com- 
mittee’ andiof®the executive committee of thé’ Chinese church that.” 
our Chinese brethren are beginning to take over activities that 
were: formerly reserved exclusively for forefeners.°° You will also 
notice from the educational policy that I sent you that in three 
of our’boys’! schools) foreigners’ are to be replaced by’ Chinese as 
principals and we are to have only one foreigner as supervisor 
for the three schools." (1) 

In the same letter Mr. Seese relates that a year ago 
internal strife troubled one of the schools. The Chinese teachers 
quarreled and would not cooperate because of jealousy and the 
students taking sides with the teachers resulted in many of them 
quitting school. On another occasion a Chinese evangelist turned 
against a Chinese school principal and incited the students to 
a big strike. These events lead one to believe that new Chinese 
leadership being initiated into responsible posts will present 
occasion for various irregularities until the leadership becomes 
mature in the handling of administrative tasks. The November 
1915 act of the Ministry of Education in requiring a majority of 
the trustees of an educational institution and either its presi- 
dent or vice-president to be Chinese has created a veritable 
landslide in transferring responsibilities from the foreign 
missionaries to the Chinese. 

9. The Transfer of Administration in Hospitals. 

Reliable data is not available to the writer in 
regard to the progress of devolution in hospitals, but there is 
(1) Official letter of N. A. Seese, Secretary, Church of the 


Brethren, Chine Field Committee to the General Mission 
Board, February 19, 1926. 


reason to think that the movement is not as rapid as in the 

field of eduentdone Yet progress is being made. Mr. N. A. Seese 
who was quoted above also stated in the same letter that beginning 
with the summer of 1926, a& Chinese doctor will become the head 

of a good sized hospital formerly managed by a missionary doctor. 


84 


VI. CONCLUSION 


rites » In. the introduetory., onapter we indiccted chinese 
autonomy to,be that. ,condition_ wherein the Chinese ‘Church assumes 
responsibility. for self-government, self-supyort ¢ and self-propa- 
gatione We have seen, in, chapter 7. that he chinese possess con- 
siderable: willingness,and.ability, to bear at least an equal share 
of the. government.of the. church along with, the missionaries. 
There is little.doubt. that,, Gha missionaries could retire from af 
many territories, and the Chinese would be amply able to perform 
the governmental.function of the church, .. 

» Bhere are, many, aspects of devolution, such as, ‘ecelesi- 
astical, administrative, evangelistic, ‘mediesl, eduestional, ne 
‘finencial and »the, work of, church Orhan s Gis Any one of these mad 
ojects present.a,tield for serious study. In one sense they. are 3 
-separate,fields, but in their larger, aspect. thoy are a1 ali. ound to- 
gethere:. Val ly 
Be da lg | ar a lin . 
ar Leg ve There, is. aigterence of opinion 2 regarding, the “question 
of, self-support,of,the Christian church din, China. “There is argu- 
ment in the,.desirability, of its. attainment: ‘bat many roads are 
suggested as the way. to, ‘the. (goale _ Three | general views are ‘advo- 
cated. 91. Let foreign churches contribute their citte to China as 
unto baal Lord leaving the Chinese church use the money as it sees 
Sodvue ex Discontinue all funds except ‘the support of missionaries 
or, 3. Withdraw financial assistance gradually. The latter plan 


a 


85 


seems to be regarded with most favor. .In the Church of the 
Brethren Mission, the Chinese ehurch organization including Chi- 
nese and missionaries prepares biscuit: sets of figures in connection 
with the annual budget. 1. The to tal amount needed. 2. The amount 
the Chinese church can pay and 3, bast valence which will need to 
be supplied from the Home Board. There is a strenuous attempt 
made for the Chinese church to increase her gifts annually. Prog- 
ress is slow and the calamities of war hinder the Chinese Chris- 
tians from achievements worthy se tugs in normal times. 
James Maxon Yard, General Secretary of World Service, 
Methodist Epsicopal Church, Shanghai, writes that he doubts if 
self-support in most cases will be attained by any aevely_ mechani - 
cal process of reducing grants by 10 yenoent each years ae ‘be- 
lieves that self-support will come suddenly like the sunrise, when 
certain conditions have been met. He telieves Chinese chi stian 
communities are disturbed when they think self-support means ben 
coming finencially responsible for hospitals, schools, universities 
and the entire unwieldy and expensive organization that mission-\ 
aries have established, Such institutions should be oventualiy, \ 
turned over to boards of trustees or foundations and not to | 
Ghurches. Mr. Yard says there is little visible progress in 


self-support, but there is much intellicent appreciation. of the, 


is ‘i 
iN 


real difficulties involved (1). 


oN 


(1) Yard, James Maxon, "Se1f-Support ~ Is it Growing?” » ‘ohtna ) 
Mission Year Book. 1925, page 94, | | by 


_ 86 


Others. writing for specific territories speak very en- 

_gouragingly of the progress in self-supporte Evidently conditions 
_ Such as age, wealth, spiritual fervor and standards of church 

_ Maintenance all play a great part in the achievement of self- 
Support, 

. .. » She writer tele that missionaries have established s_ 

_ program of Christianity considerably beyond the ability at, the 
Chinese , te finance and that the progress in self-support is all 
boo slow. Self-suppart should be more nearly on a par with the 
rapid strides in self-government. Whether or not the foregoing 
opinion regarding the standard of the Chinese church is correct 

. bhere are gratifying instances of Chinese churches MASORARE self- 

. Supporting. | 

9. Chine se Missionary Enterprise. 

‘. asin The success of devolution in administration is indicated 
aie no small way by the Chinese initiative manifested in home . 
missionary work. wo iess than twenty-five regularly organized 
Home Mission Societies backed by annual gifts of from. ten.to. . 

fifteen thousand dollars from Chinese Christians are making known 

. the Aad news throughout China (1). Some of these societies 

receive partial support. from foreign sources, but most of them 

Ae either entirely or nearly self-supporting. . The denominational 

Chinese church. organizations have projected most of these societies - 


but a ane of them are non-denominational. 
tepoxe ae ” ee Rene Oy ae 


(a) me inte ttes Vaapets of China. ‘W922, pee ape 


> is stp hans at al Oh tl ptt ll ed Mes go Pl ith As DAG SS Mts — 
ee : “a a a ee eae eer Fae ee oe sr heen a a onion lana TT wa dena 
ov Ki (Le Ta Cie. ein inci 7 iiheliiallls 


87 


This missionary activity is a sign of progress, even 
more hopeful than that of self-support. The China Survey reports 
the activity of purely Chinese organizations working in conjunc- 
tion with the parent churches in carrying on work in the provin-~ 
ces of Fukien, Shensi, Kwangtung, Chekiang, Shantung and Hupeh. 
As an outstanding example of a Chinese non-denominational organi- 
gation we may mention the Chinese Missionary Society in Yunnan. 
The idea for this society, non-denominational and national took 
root during a Christian Conference for Chinese held at Kuling in 
the summer of 1918. Its initial impulse came from a small group 
of women. ‘The contagion soon spread and the society became a 
reality. In duly 1925 the society held its sixth Annual Meeting 
at Nankinge In Yunnan the society has two mission stations and 
six workers. In the Heilungkiang field there are nine stations, 
each manned by one worker. Dr. Ce Y. Cheng is president of the 
cabinet of the society. All offivers of the society are Chinese 
(1). This Home Missionary Society is an exceptional example of 
what is being duplicated in a smaller way by man societies through- 
out China. 

4, Independent Churches. 

For over fifty years Chinese churches have been "organ- 
ized" in connection with Protestant missions. In many instances 
the influence of the missionaries was so predominating that ina 


(1) Report of Annual Meeting of the Chinese Home Missionary 
Society. Chinese Recorder, September 1925, page 616.6. 


88 


meMeie with Be Gey rh Mead FES aa, oe ce oh ary BAL? Ye ae cmt it ee ter ght a) 
bag sense ‘pe Shurch Big 8 not. atejotay Chinese. | Our reference, here 
Wd CRA WD EE lhe 
is. to sah Andepender : caer ones. as. neve. ‘separated. from. church 
Diath OG oe: “arts 9 wh orth) faz } 
‘bodies organized by sgn tgucibhasledi societies. There are two 
£7 Ae maet i grat 4 pide al See ” ; 


types of such independent ghurches (1). 


‘et mn bs gS igh MAR | 


to be ay og Ge pome churches. Sue to ‘aiftioulties An, relationship, 
either with 1 ne mission 6 as, 8 boy or With individual missionaries, 


eS ee. ERHUM gh G 
severed ghesr. Gonna Get On. with, the ‘parent church and have. become | 
Me 4 2" a » fiz Py ae we AD TAP SA ke SA a line Or ® 


int Gee A tae ab i 


ee * nih OD yer Saat ig a ee 


ary 


independent egglosigstically and. in. the matter of financial sup- 
the charcn at 7 WR ne A AND, Fuh be hk | Bierman WE MAS Oh. be 


Bo** premise. of _8uch churches are the independent churches of 


* 
an & hed aes A, jn ba SKE 


Chekiang which were formerly connected with the China Inland 
Mission and others in Fakien AAS connected wi th the ghurch 


HERE GI ay COO 48 at 


be tage geet 3 Pastete. Recently these Churches: have become a part 


of the National Association of Chinese Independent Churches. 


Sud Debt ee ee & wat & 


Apparently the se churches: are not SO. well. Satisfied with, their 


endo { 


jae’ hee. Qt severing Pome Sten. with the parent churches “or the new 


Ley yy. +e 


National Association Siscourages | other churches, from achieving in- 


e e *e3 Fan ole eu i. & 


fependence in this manner and refuses | to. admit. them to their Age- 


eG r0Ot ‘ 


sociation unless there hes, been ACAAYAYS reason tor Severing. con- 


Ds be ee ty 


nections with he. parent church. 


cee Of OE ee Pe we os is Pe a ah 


be Mie second. type. 9; _ Andependent, churches have severed 


x 
wo te. . fy RF ey a5 


Re 


Sie, 
ey < 


organic connection with | the parent Jussionary organization, on such 


ERED YY MANO? COR ert. aoa eee) 


grounds BS », 1. The convigtion. ‘het a church ir 


Hinese Uhyiletians, 


control will have a stronger sppeal. to non-Christians, 2+. The 
Oh dda Ae ys & VAD Mi, SOC Baws OL ALP mS 


GLLe Bre vets : ans i iw 1% Bitte 


WERE AT Ah dereten 


he 


predic wi 11 develop more rapidly along Chinese lines. 3. Church 


(1) The Christian Occupation of China. 1922 » page 380 


ee ee 


members will be confronted with a greater responsibility which 
will lead to loyalty end greater effort and 4. There will be com- 
plete freedom from western ecclesiastical restrictions both in 
dogma and organization. | 

This second type of churches, while independent still 
maintains most cordial relations with parent missionary churches 
and asks missionaries to retain places on their advisory boards. 

Examples of the second type of independent churches are: 
the church at Tientsin organized in 1911; Tsinan organized in 
1902; Peking organized in 1903; ®singtan organized in 1919. 

Some of the independent churches have developed their 
autonomy too far. They are no longer associated with any church 
body and are open to excessive extremes in the promotion of 
Christianity. | 

in conclusion it should be said that the writer be- 
lieves thoroughly in the importance of proper administrative 
organization. Its neglect leads to weakness. But its presence 
Goes not agsure success for towering over and sbove it in im- 
portande is the Spirit of Christ, of Him who came that we might — 
have life and have it more abundantly. 

“Devolution is proceeding in what I consider a satis- 
factory manner considering such conditions as the, age of most 
Chinese Christians, the disturbed war torn condition in China, - 
the strong anti-Christian opposition and the stage of literacy of 


" 


in tae, Mae ‘ya » TER A Ree ee ie hie a 
e 1 sonar * are _chanetng but hiss 4 ; 
us in our reintioun may the spirit of brotherhood | , 
Biieu, Edwin ret Reino Mest ddary meter Revell, Baw Tore, : ‘« 
be evidenced by the Wicariousness: of those who would serve China. a 


Chinese Chaar oh, The Wational Chri st ian coe, tans ees f Fain : 


_- +» Origntal, Pregs, Shanghat,.19 ites 4 
Curt atten Qeounes ton af 0 Sate iy Zag hina Goutisaansson: Comms 06 y 
Church on the Kission Field, Phe Repert of Commiseiony II Sdanbuse ; 

wee WlssLomry Couferenag. Revell, Bew York, ms 

Fleming, Pe. Fay. Tiny ows dn Picanto een testes Preon, ee . 
ow ba, 19. . la! 
Oaneweld., Mary. hinike Sew Lite: hieareatit ia, Chim, Ws elenary. « : 
ges Mi Ydkent Lom Movenent, Hee Yorks. 1919. : 

pied magico A he, Sane. Pregrese Ot. Roeld. Wide. Miagtona, |, Doren : 
ti tee York, 1924. . } 

Rutehivgn, . ‘Pana ip The Baxt sak sien Methodist: Book Gencermn , 4°: : 

| New York, 1922, 4 


meeee ris 7 m » A.Gen of Protestant, Uiasions hia China. 
; sb dtl liege pee riean Ppadt Society, Now Tee Re L907, 


unrite, "ohaitineste clea’ Hoddrn litindore, ‘Hevena, New 
OP ke a 


Maat, Attred ig ie 2 eg i Getonaby Htetory. Soran. 
orstgenooy , if Helen Barrett ‘Wie. Bivie and E Vien conti Pe Ren ea tae 
a mmlviee G2” the ‘United Stuly of Foreien 
bites Yak | Miastona, Ree Madtord,y: Mawgeu: IGRO, The 


ae dane: Be 8 mae Spread of Christ tant ty in the Matern World. 
a ik 43 | ) Universit ty of Chieaae Pres , GOLGI OL « 1919, 1. 


Porter, inotus Gey, i gota Challenge: to Christians ty. Missionary | i 


Eémen tion Movement, Now York, 12 és 


91 
BIBLIOGRAPHY 


Books 


Beach, H. P., Dawm on the Hills of Tange Student Volunteer Move- 
| ment, New York. 1898, . 


Bliss, Edwin M., The Missionary Enterprise. Revell, New York. 
1908, 


Chinese Church, The National Christian Conference Report. The 
Oriental Press, Shanghai, 1922, 


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